Business & Money | Wednesday 25 January, 2017 12:02 pm |

Embracing the spirit of the "Year of Giving 2017" initiative announced by His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; leading retail jeweller Pure Gold Jewellers, has pledged USD 1 million (AED 3.8 million) to help secure the release of debt laden prisoners in the UAE.  Firoz Merchant, Founder and Chairman of the company and an internationally recognised Philanthropist, visited the Ajman Central Jail to secure the release of the first batch of 132 prisoners whose debts worth AED 150,000 in total was paid off. Each prisoner was also given AED 100 (equivalent in their local currency) for transportation to their home, once they reach their country.

The releases prisoners were nationals of different countries such as Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Oman and Ghana. Up to AED 30,000 per person was allocated for debt clearance.

According to Firoz Merchant, “The Year of Giving is an amazing humanitarian initiative that implores everyone to do the best they can in whatever way they can, to help the less fortunate in our communities, so that we can move forward as a cohesive society. We have pledged USD 1 Million this year to secure the release of those who are imprisoned due to their inability to pay back debts that they accumulated because of job loss, business downturn or other reasons beyond their control. Since 2008 the ‘Forgotten Society’ initiative has aimed at helping insolvent prisoners, we have secured the release of more than 4500 such prisoners; and we have renewed our commitment this year with a larger budget.”

At Ajman Central Jail, Firoz Merchant met with the prison authorities and the released prisoners, who were grateful to have received a second chance.

“These prisoners are victims of circumstances and are not real criminals. They are in jail because of debt.  That is why I decided to pay off their debts and provide for air tickets so that they can go back to their countries and be united with their families. Whatever support we provided them is according to the UAE laws, and in consultation with the official authorities. I do not follow direct requests from prisoners or their families, we take care of only those applications that are forwarded by the prison authorities. Each case is evaluated and recommended by the authorities,” Merchant said.

Merchant hopes that his “Forgotten Society” initiative to help prisoners, will prompt others in the business community to come forward to help more prisoners of unfortunate financial circumstances.