Italians return as promised
5 Jan 2013 6:32 AM IST
The two Italian Marines, facing murder charges in Kerala, arrived here this morning after celebrating Christmas with their families and surrendered their passports at the trial court in Kollam.
Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were allowed to go home for two weeks by the Kerala High Court on 20 December, arrived by a chartered flight by 7.50 am.
They were arrested on 19 February last year for shooting to death two Indian fishermen -- Ajesh Binki (25) and Jelestine (45) from onboard merchant vessel 'Enrica Lexie' off Alapuzha coast, 'mistaking' them for Somali pirates.
Shortly after their arrival, they drove to Kollam to comply with the court direction that they should surrender their passports as soon as they returned to India.
As part of the procedures, the marines filed an affidavit before District and Sessions Judge P D Rajan stating that they had not only kept their assurance to the court but returned to India a few days earlier than the time-frame set by the court.
The judge permitted the marines to withdraw the Rs six crore bank guarantee executed by them as part of the condition set by Kerala High Court for allowing them to join their families in Italy for a few days.
The judge also extended the residence permit of the marines upto 13 May, 2013 and asked them to appear before the court on 15 January for further proceedings in the case.
Earlier,Italian Consul General in India Giampaolo Cutillo told reporters at Kochi that Italy has fulfilled the commitment given to the court.
‘We had committed, the Italian Foreign Ministry had personally committed to let the two marines back at the end of the special permission and this commitment which was based on the honour of Italian Government, of the Italian Armed forces and of the Italian diplomacy, has been kept’.
‘So I am sure the people of India and people of Kerala will appreciate the importance of this gesture, which we have done in good faith and I am sure this will help find a positive solution to this case,’ the diplomat said.
Stringent conditions had been laid down by the Court,which had asked them to return by 10 January. The Kollam Sessions Court had asked them to be present for the trial on 15 January.
The judge extended their residence permit upto 13 May 2013 and asked them to appear before the court on 15 Jan for further proceedings.
On 22 December,the marines had left for Rome after the High Court permitted them to go for Christmas for two weeks.
Their visit to Italy had the nation debating on their return. Suspicions were abound that this was perhaps the last India would see of the marines. However they have returned as promised.
Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who were allowed to go home for two weeks by the Kerala High Court on 20 December, arrived by a chartered flight by 7.50 am.
They were arrested on 19 February last year for shooting to death two Indian fishermen -- Ajesh Binki (25) and Jelestine (45) from onboard merchant vessel 'Enrica Lexie' off Alapuzha coast, 'mistaking' them for Somali pirates.
Shortly after their arrival, they drove to Kollam to comply with the court direction that they should surrender their passports as soon as they returned to India.
As part of the procedures, the marines filed an affidavit before District and Sessions Judge P D Rajan stating that they had not only kept their assurance to the court but returned to India a few days earlier than the time-frame set by the court.
The judge permitted the marines to withdraw the Rs six crore bank guarantee executed by them as part of the condition set by Kerala High Court for allowing them to join their families in Italy for a few days.
The judge also extended the residence permit of the marines upto 13 May, 2013 and asked them to appear before the court on 15 January for further proceedings in the case.
Earlier,Italian Consul General in India Giampaolo Cutillo told reporters at Kochi that Italy has fulfilled the commitment given to the court.
‘We had committed, the Italian Foreign Ministry had personally committed to let the two marines back at the end of the special permission and this commitment which was based on the honour of Italian Government, of the Italian Armed forces and of the Italian diplomacy, has been kept’.
‘So I am sure the people of India and people of Kerala will appreciate the importance of this gesture, which we have done in good faith and I am sure this will help find a positive solution to this case,’ the diplomat said.
Stringent conditions had been laid down by the Court,which had asked them to return by 10 January. The Kollam Sessions Court had asked them to be present for the trial on 15 January.
The judge extended their residence permit upto 13 May 2013 and asked them to appear before the court on 15 Jan for further proceedings.
On 22 December,the marines had left for Rome after the High Court permitted them to go for Christmas for two weeks.
Their visit to Italy had the nation debating on their return. Suspicions were abound that this was perhaps the last India would see of the marines. However they have returned as promised.
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