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  India   Supreme Court allows marine to stay in Italy

Supreme Court allows marine to stay in Italy

Published : Sep 29, 2016, 4:41 am IST
Updated : Sep 29, 2016, 4:41 am IST

The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Italian Marine Massimiliano Latorre, accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in February 2012, to remain in Italy till the international t

The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Italian Marine Massimiliano Latorre, accused of killing two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast in February 2012, to remain in Italy till the international tribunal decides jurisdiction issue. The court had earlier allowed him to go to Italy on medical grounds.

A three judge Bench of Justices Anil R. Dave, Kurian Joseph and Amitav Roy passed this order on an application from Mr Latorre, seeking modification of the bail conditions on the same terms as the one passed for another Marine Girone in May this year.

Additional solicitor-general P.S. Narasimha informed the court that the Union government has no objection for modification of bail conditions of Marine Massimiliano Latorre to enable him remain in that country till an international tribunal decided which country had the right to try the case of killing of two Indian fishermen. The ASG submitted that arbitral proceedings would take a year or two to complete and even the international tribunal has made it clear that the two Marines are subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India which can take a call on granting bail.

While relaxing Mr Girone’s bail conditions on May 26, the apex court had allowed him to go to his country till the jurisdictional issue between India and Italy was decided in the international arbitral tribunal. The apex court had imposed four conditions on Mr Girone, including that he has to report to a police station in Italy on first Wednesday of every month and the Italian authorities have to inform the Indian embassy in Rome about it”. The second condition was that he will not tamper with any evidence, nor influence any witness in the case.

The third was that he will give an undertaking that he will remain under the jurisdiction of Supreme Court and, lastly, if found violating any of the conditions, his bail will be cancelled.

The bench imposed similar conditions to Lattore for his stay in Italy and asked the Centre to file a status report every three months on the progress in the tribunal.

Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi