INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - JULY - AUGUST - 2007
The Month that was ...

YAKUB MEMON GETS DEATH FOR '93 BLASTS

A SPECIAL anti-terror court sentenced Yakub Memon, brother of prime accused Tiger Memon, to death for his role in the 1993 Mumbai blasts that killed 257 people. Yakub's sentencing takes the number of those sent to the gallows for the bombings to 12.

As an accountant, Yakub had financed the blasts through hawala transfers and had also arranged for air tickets for many of the accused who had received weapons training in Pakistan.

After hearing his sentence, Yakub jumped up and burst out saying, "Oh my lord, this man knows not what he does. Please forgive him," referring to Judge Pramod Kode of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) Court. Police had to forcibly drag him out later.

Rubina memon, wife of Tiger Memon's brother Suleiman Memon, was handed out a life term. She was not given death because she was a woman and most decisions regarding the blasts were taken by male members of the Memon family. Yusuf and Issa Memon, other brothers of Tiger Memon, also got a life sentence for their role in the blasts. They are both suffering from health problems and so were also spared from death.