Tuesday 22 / April / 2025
Muscat: “During the past four months, it was the memories of her which kept me alive. Every minute while I was under custody, I felt that she was with me. Still, I can’t adjust to the fact that she has left me alone.” These were the words of Linson Thomas, husband of Chikku Robert, murdered on April 20 at her apartment in Salalah.
Read here: Murdered Oman nurse’s husband released from jail
Linson, who was taken into custody following Chikku’s death, was released yesterday after 119 days in custody.
His first taste of freedom from custody came in the shape of a south Indian lunch with friends and legal advisors in Salalah.
He has been told to remain in Oman by the Royal Oman Police, so cannot travel home.
Linson said: “I am innocent. I have not killed my wife. I have full faith in Oman’s judiciary. The police officials were nice with me. I thank everyone who supported me during my tough times.”
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Linson and Chikku were working at Badr Al Samaa hospital in Salalah. They had married after they fell in love with each other. When Chikku was found dead she was five months pregnant.
Taking to Times of Oman, Linson said that he loved his wife a lot and still has confidence in Oman police and judiciary that they will find her killer soon.
Talking about the tragic night which claimed his wife’s life, Linson said that he was frozen for several minutes without knowing what to do when he found her lying dead on their bed.
“She was supposed to come to duty by 10pm on that day. As I was informed that she didn’t turn up, I went to see what has happened. I stay nearby hospital,”Linson added.
“It is just a two-minute walking distance. After reaching the flat, when I saw her lying dead, I was shocked for a few minutes. Then I ran to hospital for help,” Linson said.
The murder and Linson’s custody were widely reported in both Oman and their native place India. On May 2, when Chikku’s body was repatriated to India for burial, Linson had to stay in Salalah as police continued theinvestigation.
Linson’s mother, Lissamma Thomas, said that she was “relieved” when she heard the news. “He called me. We talked for a few minutes. We were sure that he will be released. We thank the Almighty for listening to our prayers.
“We were holding special prayers for the last four months. He is innocent. I know that he will not do such a heinous crime. He is a god fearing person,” Lissamma told Times of Oman.
Liju Thomas, Linson’s brother working in Muscat, said that he will be flying to Salalah to meet Linson.
“Relieved. What else we can say. Spoke to him over phone. We all were worried a lot about him,” Liju added.
Meanwhile, Robert A, Chikku’s father, told Times of Oman that he is happy to hear that Linson has been released.
“I spoke to him. It was only for a few minutes. He told me that he will be calling me again today itself. I have told him to come back soon. I want to see him,” Robert said, adding that Chikku’s mother is not mentally stable after Chikku’s death.
“I have told her about Linson’s release. However, I don’t know whether she has understood it or not. She is not at all stable mentally. She is taking medicines. Still, she talks about Chikku and asks me when Chikku is coming. She has not realized that Chikku is no more even though she attended the funeral,” Robert added.
According to Linson’s lawyers, the case is still continuing and Linson won’t be able to fly to India at this moment as he has to stay back in Oman as part of the investigation.
