Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Standard yesterday, the Ebo Town resident recollected: “It was only yesterday that the namesake of Ali showed me the newspaper and asked me whether I was aware my sons were jailed in the UK. I last saw my children over a decade ago when their mother took them to the UK after marrying a British man. I was working on a[n ocean-going] trawler and only used to come ashore every six months and it was during my absence she took the kids without my consent. I would have wanted them to stay with me to give them proper training and education of which I was capable.
“I was never given the opportunity by the mother to talk to the children I sired which has caused me immense pain. I would like to have contact with my kids to give them all the support they need in these difficult times. No matter what happens, they will always be my children. Until the end of the marriage, I was always paying the house rent and putting food on the table for the kids. I would like to meet my kids or their lawyer so that I can give them what support I can for my sons. This has been totally devastating for me and I have not eaten since I saw the newspaper”.
Ali Deen was jailed for 30 years for rape, aiding and abetting rape, robbery and possession of a firearm. Basiru Deen, who was jailed for 20 years, was convicted of rape and robbery.
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