Post by admin on Mar 27, 2008 7:57:57 GMT -5
Canadian freed from jail gets passage out of India
Updated Wed. Mar. 26 2008 7:44 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Montreal businessman just freed from an Indian prison showed CTV News his ink-stained hands. Two purple prison stamps on Saul Itzhayek's palms were his tickets out of jail after a 10-month incarceration.
"I'm just trying to get out so fast," Itzhayek told CTV News on Wednesday, just moments after walking out the fortified gates of a jail in the Indian province of Bihar.
"I really want to go home and (hug) my family. It's the most important thing to me right now."
Itzhayek also had some harsh words for local police.
"They weren't making it easy for me, my charges, going into court, this and that. Everything was delayed and delayed and delayed," he said.
He then was escorted out of India and into Nepal. He later spoke to CTV's Canada AM about his ordeal and his desire for a good meal.
"My favourite is pizza," Itzhayek told Canada AM.
Some reports say he has lost more than 27 kilograms since being arrested and imprisoned.
High on his agenda: "going to a normal shower, taking a shower, speaking with my wife and son and getting on my flight tomorrow and coming home -- that's what's basically on my mind," he said.
"That's what it was from day one -- just to come home."
Itzhayek had a long list of people to thank, including his family, an interfaith coalition in Montreal and Montreal Liberal MP Irwin Cotler.
"Everybody who's fought for me, I really appreciate it," he said. "I'm coming home."
Itzhayek's son Dmitri Novikov told Canada AM that he had spoken with his dad, and described him as "jumping for joy." Itzhayek could be home as soon as Friday, Novikov said.
"He's known for his taste for gourmand food, so as soon as he gets back, we're going to take good care of him," he said.
Sentence shortened
On Tuesday, an Indian judge upheld the Montreal businessman's conviction for entering India without a visa, but then reduced his sentence to time served from the original three years.
Canadian High Commission officials have been working on arrangements to get Itzhayek, 42, out of India as quickly as possible in co-operation with officials from the Bihar state government.
Indian police arrested Itzhayek in late May 2007. He had been on business in Nepal and his visa for India had expired.
He sent his driver across the border into India to pick up a wire transfer of money. Police arrested the driver and found one of Itzhayek's bags in the vehicle.
His sister has said Indian police asked him to collect his bag, promising safe passage despite the fact his visa for that country had expired.
That commitment wasn't honoured. He was immediately arrested and charged with entering India with an expired visa. Itzhayek has alleged that the police tried to shake him down for a bribe.
Sylvia Itzhayek, who has worked tirelessly to get her brother released, said Tuesday that she would like to continue the fight to get his name completely cleared.
CTV's Paul Workman said that would be difficult.
"(Itzhayek) did not have a valid visa in his passport," he said from India, adding he thinks the family will work towards some type of pardon.
Novikov said the family had gone through "all the possible emotions that could be associated with this."
Recently, Itzhayek narrowly escaped injury from a bomb thrown inside the prison at a local gangster.
"We don't know what would have happened had we lost him over something as minor as a visa violation," Novikov said.
Updated Wed. Mar. 26 2008 7:44 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Montreal businessman just freed from an Indian prison showed CTV News his ink-stained hands. Two purple prison stamps on Saul Itzhayek's palms were his tickets out of jail after a 10-month incarceration.
"I'm just trying to get out so fast," Itzhayek told CTV News on Wednesday, just moments after walking out the fortified gates of a jail in the Indian province of Bihar.
"I really want to go home and (hug) my family. It's the most important thing to me right now."
Itzhayek also had some harsh words for local police.
"They weren't making it easy for me, my charges, going into court, this and that. Everything was delayed and delayed and delayed," he said.
He then was escorted out of India and into Nepal. He later spoke to CTV's Canada AM about his ordeal and his desire for a good meal.
"My favourite is pizza," Itzhayek told Canada AM.
Some reports say he has lost more than 27 kilograms since being arrested and imprisoned.
High on his agenda: "going to a normal shower, taking a shower, speaking with my wife and son and getting on my flight tomorrow and coming home -- that's what's basically on my mind," he said.
"That's what it was from day one -- just to come home."
Itzhayek had a long list of people to thank, including his family, an interfaith coalition in Montreal and Montreal Liberal MP Irwin Cotler.
"Everybody who's fought for me, I really appreciate it," he said. "I'm coming home."
Itzhayek's son Dmitri Novikov told Canada AM that he had spoken with his dad, and described him as "jumping for joy." Itzhayek could be home as soon as Friday, Novikov said.
"He's known for his taste for gourmand food, so as soon as he gets back, we're going to take good care of him," he said.
Sentence shortened
On Tuesday, an Indian judge upheld the Montreal businessman's conviction for entering India without a visa, but then reduced his sentence to time served from the original three years.
Canadian High Commission officials have been working on arrangements to get Itzhayek, 42, out of India as quickly as possible in co-operation with officials from the Bihar state government.
Indian police arrested Itzhayek in late May 2007. He had been on business in Nepal and his visa for India had expired.
He sent his driver across the border into India to pick up a wire transfer of money. Police arrested the driver and found one of Itzhayek's bags in the vehicle.
His sister has said Indian police asked him to collect his bag, promising safe passage despite the fact his visa for that country had expired.
That commitment wasn't honoured. He was immediately arrested and charged with entering India with an expired visa. Itzhayek has alleged that the police tried to shake him down for a bribe.
Sylvia Itzhayek, who has worked tirelessly to get her brother released, said Tuesday that she would like to continue the fight to get his name completely cleared.
CTV's Paul Workman said that would be difficult.
"(Itzhayek) did not have a valid visa in his passport," he said from India, adding he thinks the family will work towards some type of pardon.
Novikov said the family had gone through "all the possible emotions that could be associated with this."
Recently, Itzhayek narrowly escaped injury from a bomb thrown inside the prison at a local gangster.
"We don't know what would have happened had we lost him over something as minor as a visa violation," Novikov said.