Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 15
More than nine years after two Italian marines allegedly killed two Indian fishermen off the coast in Kerala, the Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed all criminal charges against them in connection with a murder case they faced in India.
A Bench of Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice MR Shah said the compensation of Rs 10 crore paid by the Italian government over and above Rs 2.17 crore already given to the victims’ families was adequate. It said Rs 4 crore each would be given to the kin of two deceased fishermen and boat owner St Antony will get the remaining Rs 2 crore.
It requested the Kerala High Court Chief Justice to nominate a judge to pass an appropriate order for disbursement/investment of the amount to be paid to the heirs of each deceased so as to protect their interest and ensure that the compensation was not misappropriated.
The two marines — Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone — would now be prosecuted in Italy, it said, adding the case details along with evidence will be provided by the Centre and the Kerala Government to Italy Government.
The marines were on board Italian-flagged commercial oil tanker MV Enrica Lexie when they allegedly fired at two Indian fishermen — Valantine @ Jelestine (44) and Ajeesh Pink (20) — off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012, in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
The order follows the Centre’s decision to accept the award of an arbitration tribunal under UNCLOS which said Italy had the jurisdiction to prosecute the marines.
“We are of the view that this is a fit case to close all proceedings in India, including criminal proceedings, in exercise of powers under Article 142 of the Constitution of India,” said the top court.
Rs 10-cr Compensation adequate: Top court