Filipinos raise ‘blood money’ to free long serving prisoner in Kuwait
A group of Filipinos has reportedly raised the $26,000 in ‘blood money’ needed to free one of its longest serving citizens in a Kuwaiti jail. Joseph Urbiztondo, 45, was sentenced to life in jail in 1996 for accidentally killing his Bangladeshi co-worker, Azizur Rahman. The victim’s family eventually agreed on the amount of blood money – a common payment made to the families of murder victims as compensation in return for freedom – but Urbiztondo’s family could not raise the money, Kuwait Times said.
The Filipino government also was reluctant to pay up. The Filipino community in both Kuwait and at home rallied together and it took more than a decade to raise the required amount. It is planned to be delivered to Rahman’s family via the Philippine Embassy in Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kuwait Times said.
The turnover ceremony would include the signing of a letter of foregiveness. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa said he was proud of the Filipinos’ efforts for their compatriot. He said he expected Urbiztondo to be freed from jail within weeks.
Source : ArabBusiness
Kuwait News
- Events in Kuwait
- Drivers, cooks, houseboys jobs for Indians , cost KD 280
- 400 KD in few hours
- Court jails Kuwaiti to 7 yrs in maid’s rape
- Plan to replace all expats
- Dual health insurance
- Doctors and graduates among 22,000 expatriates deported
- MOE warns teachers in Kuwait
- Private schools allowed to increase fees
- Warnings issued for singles in Kuwait
- Not any more jobs for Expats , Kuwait Municipality
- Only ‘six’ agencies named to hire Indian housemaids and should not exceed 400 KD
- Renewing the residence permit of unqualified ‘bachelors’ based on work
- Expat recruitment ‘ban’ below 30 years of age , Discussion
- 700 million KD in ATM machines
- 100 % increase in rate of remittances by expats
- Additional charges of KD 250 imposed for extra work
- Controlled termination of public sector expats
- Man fined KD 10,000 for littering
- 28,780 tickets issued in 7 days
- Female Health Ministry employee arrested

Filed in: All • Expats in Kuwait • Local News • News