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ITALIAN SHIP ROW |
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Enrica Lexie allowed to go after a bond of Rs 3 crore
Kerala HC orders the release of Italian ship Enrica Lexie after securing a bond for Rs 3 crore
Jeemon Jacob
Thiruvananthapuram
The Kerala High Court on Thursday ordered conditional release of Italian oil tanker Enrica Lexie berthed off the Kochi coast since last 42 days. The division bench of the HC headed by PS Gopinathan in his order directed the Kochi Port Trust to release the ship after securing a bond of Rs 3 crore and an assurance from the owners of ship that they would produce the captain and the sailors of the ship whenever the court demands.
Enrica Lexie was stranded in Kochi after two Italian marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, were detained and charged with killing two fishermen Ajesh Binki (25), and Gelastine (45), on February 15 mistaking them to be pirates. The two marines were arrested on February 20 and they have been lodged at the Central Prison in Thiruvananthapuram since.
The court directed the owners that they should produce the captain and the other sailors if the court summons them for trial. The court also granted permission to the police to register cases against the captain and other sailors if it’s necessary. Earlier, Advocate General appearing for the state government objected to releasing the ship as the investigation hasn’t concluded and the forensic report is yet to be received.
However, the counsel for Union Ministry of Shipping and Director General of Shipping expressed their willingness to release the ship. Meanwhile, counsel of the ship's owners, Dolphin Tankers, told the court that the company is incurring a huge expenditure with the ship restrained at Kochi port and it should be allowed to leave as they are fully cooperating with the investigation.
Jeemon Jacob is Bureau Chief, South with Tehelka.
jeemonj@gmail.com |
