Italian marines will be tried under Indian laws: Antony

Indian laws would be applied to the two Italian marines who are now in judicial custody for killing two Indian fishermen, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Tuesday.

“The Indian judiciary is the most transparent and has come under wide appreciation from all quarters. The government has no influence on the judiciary and the marines will have to go through the judicial process of the country,” Antony told reporters here.

The two Italian marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, were Feb 20 sentenced by a court to 14 days custody, of which the first three days were in police custody. The judicial custody was later extended twice by seven days each. Last Monday, the duo were lodged at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Prison.

They have been charged with shooting dead Indian fishermen Ajesh Binki (25), and Gelastine (45) Feb 15 after mistaking them to be pirates. The marines were on board cargo vessel Enrica Lexie, about 14 nautical miles off Alappuzha in Kerala.

“India has come under pressure from Italy. But our country’s stand has remained firm from the start of this incident. Today, the case is being looked into by the Indian judiciary and it will remain that way,” added Antony.

Antony’s statement comes at a time when the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura has been moving from pillar to post to in a bid to get the two marines out of prison and lodged in a guest house as they were during the earlier part of their police custody.