The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Italian marine, Salvatore Girone, one of the accused in the killing of two Kerala fishermen in 2012, to return home, albeit with few conditions.
The apex court wanted him to surrender his passport once he reached Italy, report to a designated police station every month and follow the instructions of the Supreme Court once he was out of India.
Girone had sought permission to be allowed to return to his country as the case was pending in an international court.
The other accused, Massimiliano Latorre is already in Italy, as per the Supreme Court’s verdict, on health grounds, and his stay has been extended till September, this year.
Incidentally, the center supported Girone’s request in the apex court. It felt that the Italian sailor could be offered relief on “humanitarian grounds”.
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In 2012, Salvatore Girone and Massimilliano Latorre had killed 2 fishermen off the Kerala coast. Following which they were arrested on charges of murder.
Italy feels that the marines guarding the oil tanker had mistaken the fishermen as being pirates. Moreover, it demanded immunity for the sailors on the ground that the oil tanker they were guarding was in international waters. However, India did not agree to Italy’s contention.
Italy later sought involvement of the UN arbitration court to solve the imbroglio. India too agreed to follow the court orders.
The UN arbitration court in its recent verdict wanted India to allow Girone to go to his home country. However, it also made it clear that Girone will have to abide by the bail conditions decided upon by the apex court.
Although on bail, Girone remained stay put at the Indian embassy in Delhi for more than four years.
You Can also read our previous story related to that: http://indialegalonline.com/indias-top-court-has-extended-the-continued-stay-of-the-italian-marine-massimiliano-latorre/