Public prosecution appeals against release of Indian sailors

Dubai, Sep 23 (UNI) The public prosecution has appealed to the Federal Cassation court in Abu Dhabi against the acquittal of six Indian sailors, facing charges of killing their crewmate on February 6, on board the Norwegian-registered merchant vessel from the Mangalore port.

However, the sailors, who were earlier held responsible for the death of Sudhir Nonia Jagannath,(31), were let off by the Fujairah Court of Appeal on July 26.

The court had accepted the defendants' argument, holding it had no jurisdiction over the case since the incident had happened in international waters.

Sudhir was found dead on February 6, on board Norwegian-registered merchant vessel, sailing from the Mangalore port.

Six of the crew, including the ship's captain Jitendra Malhotra, were arrested and lodged in the Fujairah jail.

Among other accused were Sumeet Bhola, Maher Gurprit Singh, Moosa Kounge, Pramod Chavan, Skariah Money Mannil and Datta Suman.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said as the incident took place in the international waters, the case should be decided by Indian courts.

As the case progressed, the Defence team received an official pardon from the dependents of the deceased, hailing from Mumbai, the Gulf Today reported.

The accused had pooled in Rs 2 million to compensate the victim's family while the Norwegian shipping company of the vessel Champion Pioneer paid 70,000 dollars.

The Defence team is now waiting for the hearing to once again plead for the acquittal of the six sailors, who have already spent seven months in the jail.

The findings of the autopsy conducted in Fujairah, indicated that Sudhir died of head injury caused by bludgeoning with solid object leading to skull fracture, haemorrhage, neurological shock and severe contusions.

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