Exclusive – Samuel Jerome Denies Allegations Against Him: “All Blatant Lies”
Samuel Jerome Baskaran, the Tamil-origin airline consultant at the centre of the high-profile negotiations to save Indian nurse Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen, has denied recent allegations levelled against him as “all blatant lies.”
Jerome, who has lives in Yemen and led the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, has come under fire from a faction involved in the campaign, accusing him of monopolising the negotiation process and sidelining other key contributors, including Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar or Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad.
A source close to the negotiations claimed Jerome insisted on being the sole point of contact, blocked others’ involvement, and refused to account for $40,000 previously collected for the campaign. “He left a WhatsApp group when asked about the fund’s details. He’s discrediting others, particularly those supporting Sheikh Abubakr, and wants to steer everything himself,” the person alleged.
Responding exclusively to Timeline, Jerome dismissed all such claims. “They are all blatant lies. I have never received $40,000. That amount was sent to the Indian embassy-appointed lawyer through official channels, and all expenses were accounted for,” he said.
Regarding the accusation of being the sole negotiator, Jerome clarified, “Did I anywhere say that only I can do it or I should do it? I never said that. And it is that Sheikh himself contacted me and I told him yes, we need assistance and we need help. And anyone who calls me for help, I told them welcome. Do whatever you want to do. But do it in a way that it has to be done in Yemeni way, that is what all I say… don’t try to do something that will jeopardise Yemeni traditions and that is what I always say.”
Jerome also denied claims that he, alongside advocate Deepa Jose, discredited others. “I only discredit people who take credit without doing the work. Deepa Jose supports me because she knows what I’ve done,” he said. He added, “Who has spent their own money? I’ve been here for over a year, hosting Nimisha’s mother in my home, using my personal funds.”
When asked if he rejected the role of Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, Jerome offered a cryptic response: “You have to check in Yemen. Time and results will prove.”
This rebuttal comes in the wake of growing attention on the role of the Grand Mufti in temporarily halting Priya’s execution. Sheikh Abubakr reportedly appealed to Yemeni scholar Sheikh Umar bin Hafiz, whose students convinced the victim’s family to pause the execution for four hours, allowing the legal team to act.
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in Yemen for the 2017 murder of her Yemeni business partner. Her legal team insists the killing was unintentional and occurred during a period of severe abuse.
Jerome, who has played a lead role for over seven years in coordinating talks for her release, reiterated his commitment to the cause: “I’m here because no Indian should face execution abroad if it can be prevented,” he said.
“This thing, nobody can do it alone. This is a massive effort. So, anybody who wants to come in without a personal agenda, only the agenda of saving Nimisha, are welcome, but if anybody is coming with their agenda, then it will spoil everything. It will spoil the total effort and we might lose Nimisha. So, that is what it is,” he concluded.
