On eve of sentence, Maria eats dal-sabzi, seemed 'pleased'

Mumbai: Emile Jerome and Maria Susairaj will be spending a night of great suspense till the Sessions Court pronounces its verdict on the degree and duration of punishment to be meted out to the two.

However, Maria Susairaj stands to walk free today as the maximum sentence for destruction of evidence is three years and she has already spent that duration in jail.

According to senior public prosecutor Rohini Salian, "Assuming that the Sessions Court awards Susairaj a three-year-long sentence under Section 201of the IPC for destruction of evidence, she would already have had served it in course of the three-year-long trial.

In the event, she can immediately move a bail plea in the Sessions Court itself, and thereafter walk free.

However, if the quantum of punishment surpasses the duration of three years, then she will have to move a bail plea at the High Court, and while awaiting its revised sentence, serve her term in a jail outside Mumbai."

He continued, "The sentence is bound to be significantly different in the case of Jerome, who has been found guilty not just for destruction of evidence (Section 201) but also under Section 304 which convicts one for culpability in a homicide not amounting to murder.

The quantum of punishment meted out to him is likely to be more severe than that meted out to Susairaj, and he may have to serve a longer term. Unlike Susairaj, he will not enjoy the privilege of applying for bail at any court other than the High Court."

According to Superintendent S B Chaware of Taloja jail, where Jerome has been lodged at present, "Once we receive the court warrant convicting Jerome, the jail committee would consider sending him to Kolhapur jail. Of course, this is subject to the availability of police guards and vehicles for the transfer."

Jerome is at present imprisoned in barrack No 12 in Taloja jail, which boards 801 under-trials and a few convicted prisoners. Jerome was presented to the court at around 9.30 am, and was brought back by 6 pm.
According to jail officials, he had been anxious of late, and could be heard discussing his impending fate with fellow inmates.

He was a bundle of nerves yesterday, made clear by the fact that he deviated from his usual ritual of wearing ironed clothes to the court.

Superintendent S Y Karnik of the Byculla Women's prison revealed that Susairaj returned from court yesterday at around 5.30 pm.

Calm Day
She took her dinner, comprising dal, roti and sabzi, as instructed by her doctor. She then moved to her 20x10 square foot ground floor barrack cell, which she shares with 20-25 under-trials.

Karnik added that Susairaj had recently lost the company of her best friend in jail, inmate Guerrero Lugo Elvia Grissel, a Mexican national accused in the Rs 6 crore diamond heist last August. Grissel was recently convicted for her crime and sent to Yerwada jail in Pune, added the superintendent.

Karnik recalled, "She is an educated girl, and initially found it difficult to adjust with the other inmates."

Karnik quoted her as saying, "'Maine kuch kiya hi nahin, main chhoot jaungi aur apne ghar jaungi (I have not done anything, I will be acquitted and walk home free)." He also revealed that apart from being a trained beautician, Susairaj was also good with handicrafts.

"Over the last two days, her body language said that she was worried. On her return to prison yesterday, she seemed pleased, but did not speak to anybody," he said.

Prison life
According to senior jail officials, if Susairaj is granted a jail term during conviction, she will be sent from Byculla Jail to Yerwada Jail in Pune.  Once there, she will be given a pair of jail uniforms, which consists of a plain green saree and a white blouse.

Jerome will be shifted to Kolhapur prison, which accommodates 1,200 prisoners, including over 800 convicts. He will don pyjama and kurta, with a topi. An identification number will be given to the convicted prisoners, and they are expected to work during their stay.

Surinder Kumar IG (Prisons) said, "A convict is entitled to an emolument for the services rendered in jail a skilled prisoner are paid Rs 40 per day, while a semi-skilled prisoner is paid Rs 25.

An unskilled prisoner is paid Rs 20 per day. The concerned jail authorities will decide the type of work that is to be given to the prisoners, and provide training, if necessary."

Life as a convict
Jail officials added that, during the conviction period, the prisoners are expected to wake up at 5.30 am. Tea is served to them after their morning routine at 7 am, and this would be followed by breakfast.

At 8 am, they will be sent to the jail factory to work. At 11.30 am, the prisoners will be served lunch, after which they would continue to work in the factory from 12 noon to 4 pm. Between 4 pm and 5.30 pm, they are allowed to stroll outside their barracks, following which dinner is served.

At 6 pm, the inmates retreat to their cells. The inmates are entitled to a weekly holiday every Sunday, when they are expected to wash and clean their barracks.

Restrictions
A number of restrictions are imposed on their movements the inmates can obtain only Rs 1,500 per month as pocket money. The daily wages that they earn for working in jail are accumulated and given to them at the time of their release.

While under- trials are allowed to meet their relatives once every week, convicts can only meet them once in a month, for a short duration. The convicts are allowed to meet their lawyers after seeking prior permission.

Convicts are allowed to write a maximum of two letters in a month to their family members.