Italian marine gets SC nod to stay back home

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, allowed Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre, one of the accused in the killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, allowed Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre, one of the accused in the killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012, to remain in his country till the international arbitral tribunal decides which country has the jurisdiction to hold criminal trial against the two marines.

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A bench headed by Justice AR Dave said all the conditions, which were imposed on the other marine, Salvatore Girone, would be applicable on Latorre as well. But it also directed the Centre to submit a report before it every three months on the progress of the case at the tribunal.

While relaxing Girone’s bail conditions on May 26, the SC had allowed him to go to his country. Four conditions were imposed on him including that he has to report to a police station in Italy on the first Wednesday of each month and authorities have to inform the Indian Embassy in Rome about it. He was also asked not to tamper with any evidence nor influence any witness.

Senior advocate K N Balagopal, appearing for Kerala government, raised some objections. So did senior counsel Rana Mukherjee on behalf of victim’s family. Mukherjee said the matter will not conclude before the tribunal by 2020. “The game plan is to drag the case,” he alleged.