Italian Marines get bail

The Kerala high court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to two Italian naval guards charged with the murder of two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on 15 February.

According to Times Now, the court granted bail to Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone on a surety of Rs one crore each. The Italian government has assured the court that the accused will not flee from the country or intimidate the witnesses.

The court order comes a day after it turned down Italy's plea for quashing an FIR against the naval guards, Latore Massimilliano and Salvatore Girone, holding that they were liable to penal jurisdiction of Indian courts.

After release from jail, they shall stay in a building within a distance of 10 km from the office of the Kochi Police commissioner, appear before the commissioner on all days between 10am and 11am and as and when required. The marines should also furnish their mobile numbers if any, the court said, adding, they should not leave the territorial limits of the commissioner's office.

The two sureties should also not leave the state. The magistrate shall ensure the identity of the sureties by insisting on production of photo identity card, the court said. The marines were also asked to surrender their passport before the Kollam Magistrate Court.

Justice Balakrishnan made it clear that the accused should be released on bail on production of valid travel document, visa having been endorsed by a foreign registration officer.