Firoz Merchant has created a fund of $ 1 million so that he can use it for the debt-ridden expats. This fund will be used to free many more expats in the coming days as well.
A Dubai-based billionaire Firoz Merchant paid Dh 1,50,000 ($ 40,840) to free 132 debt-ridden expat prisoners which includes Indians as well from the UAE’s Ajman Central Jail. This is just the first step of the process to help people who have been behind the bars due to non-payment of debt or overstaying in jail even after the term, because these people do not have money to go back home.
This fund will be used to free many more expats in the coming days as well. These prisoners belong from India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Ethiopia, Syria, Yemen, Oman and Ghana.
"These people are unfortunate victims of circumstances and are not real criminals. They have ended up in jail because of debt-related cases and I want to do my best to send them back to their families," Merchant said.
Here are some facts about Firoz Merchant - the kind and eccentric Indian billionaire:
## Merchant is the owner of the Pure Gold Group. He is a successfully jewellery retailer since 1989.
## The billionaire has created a fund of $ 1 million so that he can use it for the debt-ridden expats.
## The freed prisoners are already are heading back home as Merchant is making sure that they are provided with flight tickets and money to cover passports.
## This fund of his can free almost 2000-3000 expats and those are huge numbers.
## Merchant is also making sure that each expat prisoner gets 100 dirham on their way back home. They can make use of this money during their travel.
