Omani family returns from India after fake currency ordeal

Muscat: A distraught Omani family, stranded in the southern Indian state of Kerala due to a fake currency case, returned to Muscat on Friday after an ordeal of over two weeks.

?We are relieved that finally Waleed and his wife Aamira are back in Oman,? Aamira?s brother Ali Bin Salem Al Rushdi told Gulf News over the phone from Suwaiq.

However, he said that the family felt that the long ordeal could have been much shorter. ?The Omani embassy was a bit slow and we understand that the police in Kerala had their own procedure to follow so that caused a delay but this could have been avoided after we furnished all evidence to prove their innocence in the case,? he reiterated.

Waleed Khalid Salam Al Rushaidi, who is a teacher in Suwaiq, and his wife Aamira Bint Salem Al Rushdi were detained by the Ernakulam police on January 29 for trying to use fake Indian currency.

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Investigations had revealed that the fake currency was unknowingly purchased by the family from a money exchange in Oman, sold to it by an apparent swindler who fled the country with the exchanged amount soon after making the transaction.

?We can neither fault India nor Oman in this case of fake Indian currency,? said Al Rushdi, a government employee.

However, he said that his sister?s husband would like to explore every possibility of getting justice for the time that he had to endure in India as well as all the expenses that he had to incur. ?We don?t know if we can sue the exchange or if the Omani government will compensate Waleed,? he wondered, adding that they would discuss and explore all possibilities.

Meanwhile, he advised all citizens to be cautious before buying currency anywhere and travelling abroad. ?It seems the person who sold the fake currency at the Khaboura exchange may have injected more fake currency into Oman?s money exchange market,? he said.

He thinks Waleed was unlucky to be a victim of the fake currency floated in the local market by someone from outside the country.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) have identified from CCTV footage at the Asian Express Exchange the person who sold fake Indian currency and steps are being taken to arrest him.

Source: http://gulfnews.com/omani-family-returns-from-india-after-fake-currency-ordeal-1.1146835?localLinksEnabled=false&utm_source=Feeds&utm_medium=RSS&utm_term=News_RSS_feed&utm_content=1.1146835&utm_campaign=Omani_family_returns_from_India_after_fake_curr

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