SC allows marine's plea for Italy stay extension

The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended stay of one of the two marines, accused of killing fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, in Italy for further three months after the Centre said that the plea could be allowed on “humanitarian” grounds due to his ill-health.

A three-judge bench presided over by Justice Anil R Dave granted the concession after Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha did not object to the application moved by Italy’s naval officer Massimiliano Latorre for extension of his stay there on grounds of his heart surgery.

The court also sought an undertaking from Italian ambassador on the same line as was given by him earlier on September 12 when Latorre was allowed to visit Italy.

Taking up the fresh application argued by senior advocate Soli J Sorabjee, the bench also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Shiva Kirti Singh, intially expressed surprise over extension of his stay for  further three months but allowed the same with consent from the Centre.

Latorre was granted permission to go to Italy on September 12,  for four months for medical treatment and recovery after he suffered a stroke here on August 31. He had undergone heart surgery on January 5.

The marines onboard ship ‘Enrica Lexie’ faced charges of killing of two Indian fishermen off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012. The court had earlier rejected the plea of co-accused marine Salvatore Girone for nod to go to Italy to celebrate Christmas.
DH News Service