From macho hero to dreaded villain

Zipping around in luxury cars, dressed in sleeveless shirts and jeans and owning a premium breed of dogs, 'Gym' Hakkim lived in style until the long arm of law caught up with him a couple of years ago.

Over the last 10 years, Hakkim had managed to pile up 13 cases of murder, attempted murder, sexual harassment, extortion, robbery and dacoity in almost all police stations in the city.

How did Abdul Hakkim turn into 'Gym' Hakkim? He was a fitness freak and a regular at the gym in Rathinapuri where he was born. "He loved to show off his hefty museles. Even during interrogation, he used to come in sleeveless shirts to show of his body," said assistant commissioner Soundararajan who is the investigating officer in the case in which he was convicted on Tuesday.

Even as a young criminal, Hakkim loved to bare his brawn so much that his associates nickednamed him 'Gym' Hakkim, 'Boxer' Hakkim, or 'Gundu' Hakkim. He lured women with his stylish appearance, lavish lifestyle, expensive cars and burly physique. "He used to lure rich women, videograph them and extort money. Unfortunately, none of them came forward to file complaints as they are daughters of rich people in the city and do not wish to get negative publicity," said a police inspector.

Like most criminals, Hakkim comes from a broken family. His mother is a Hindu and his father, Abdul Majeed, abandoned them when he was a school boy, and remarried. He went to St Paul's matriculation school in Rathinapuri, but dropped out in class 10.

Rathinapuri being a crime hub of Coimbatore, the school drop-out soon came into contact with criminal gangs. His criminal life began with selling used and stolen cars. As there was a criminal network involved in used car sales, he was easily trapped in the web of crime.

He also rubbed shoulders with the dog-loving rich class in the city by selling breed dogs to them. Soon, he was drawn into the sleazy world of sex. He abandoned his first wife and remarried a Hindu, Sumithra, who converted to Islam and became Rezina alias Zafferene.

He came to the adverse notice of Coimbatore police for the first time in 2003 when he was arrested for attempting to murder a youth, Pandian, in Rathinapuri during a temple festival. He was, however, acquitted in the case.

After a gap of four years, he was caught in a case of kidnap and assault in Annur in October 2007. The case is still pending. From then on, he became an unstoppable gang leader. He is associated with almost all criminal gangs and led them in major crimes in the city. "He always wanted to be a leader. He always led other gangs in committing crimes," said a police officer.

He was closely associated with another of Kovai's notorious criminals, Kavundampalayam Senthil, but he preferred to call himself the "leader of all gangs".

In 2010, Race Course police filed three cases against him including a case of attempt to murder; Saravanampatty police station slapped a case against him for assault and abduction; and Ramanathapuram police also registered a case against him. He was detained under the Goondas Act, but managed to get released.

In 2012, he was arrested in connection with two cases. However, he managed to come out on bail and teamed up with an ex-convict in the Coimbatore bomb blast case and robbed a pan masala trader in Ukkadam.

He has been arrested once again and is now in Salem jail. Now, he has the Muslim extremist tag as well as he is closely associated with Al Umma cadres. "He is under constant watch even in Salem prison," says an official.

Tuesday was also a day of acquittal for Gym Hakkim. Mahila court judge MP Subramaniam who awarded a life sentence to Hakkim, acquitted him and his accomplice Kannan of the alleged kidnapping of a Pollachi woman near Sidhapudur in the city in 2010.

A 29-year-old woman from Pollachi was jilted by her lover, 30 year-old Ramakrishnan of Pollachi, in 2010. He was arrested and sent to the Coimbatore central prison where he met Hakkim.

Meanwhile, Hakkim came out of jail and allegedly assured the woman that he would arrange her wedding with Ramakrishnan. He demanded '20,000, but she refused to give the amount.

The police accused Hakkim of having kidnapped the woman from Siddhapudur and taking her gold ornaments. The woman who managed to escape from Hakkim, lodged a complaint with the Race Course police.

On Tuesday evening, judge Subramanian said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges against the accused and acquitted him and his accomplice.

'Gym' Hakkim and his accomplices have no fear of law and are a threat to the humanity, observed mahila court judge M.P. Subramaniam on Tuesday. Delivering the much-awaited judgment in the sensational case on Tuesday, judge M.P. Subramaniam said 'Gym' Hakkim and his co-accused have resorted to kidnap at knife-point and rape of innocent women and committed crimes more grave than murder.

"Considering their age, the criminal charges and the manner in which they have committed the crimes, it shows that they have no fear of law; they are uncontrollable and led their lives as they wished," the judge said.

If Hakkim and his accomplices were allowed to move around freely in society, public would have to live in constant fear.

They are a peril to humanity, he added. Quoting from saint poet Tiruvalluvar's verse which insists that eliminating criminals is equal to removing weeds among crops, the judge observed that punishment has to match the crime committed. Hence, Hakkim would be sentenced to life imprisonment, the judge concluded.