HC quashes criminal case on Taiwan vessel crew

Kochi, Sep 29 (UNI) The Kerala High Court today quashed the criminal case registered by the police against 32 crew members of Taiwanese vessel 'Isabel-3.' Justice K R Udayabhanu held that the case registered against the crew except the captain was not maintainable and accordingly directed the police to release them.

The vessel 'Isabel-3', ran aground on a coral reef near Lakshadweep Islands while it was sailing from Oman to Singapore.

The Kavarathy police registered criminal case for the offences under 280 and 336 of Indian Penal Code for rash and negligent navigation and for entering Indian territorial waters.

The court held that except for Captain Hisa A Shengein the responsibility of crew members were not spelled out in the First Information Report and there were no evidences to prove that the vessel entered territorial waters intentionally.

The crew of the vessel were from Philippines, China, Vietnam and Taiwan.

UNI XR AJ RL BD1925