The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Massimiliano latorre, the second Italian marine accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012 to remain in Italy till there is a decision on the issue of India’s jurisdiction to try the marines pending before an International Arbitral Tribunal.
The court also directed the Centre to submit a report every three months on the progress in the proceedings before the Tribunal as it laid down conditions for latorre’s bail while in his country, similar to the conditions proposed by the Court for the other marine, Salvatore Girone, who is presently in Italy.
A bench of Justices AR Dave, Kurian Joseph and Amitava Roy passed the order after the Indian Government represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) PS Narasimha supported latorre’s plea so long as the two marines accepted and remained under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
In addition, the court asked Centre to inform every three months on the progress made in the international forum as concerns were raised by the Kerala government and the victim’s families who claimed that the exemption granted to the marines was a deliberate ploy to render the case ineffective.