Italian Marine Held in India for Killing Two Fishermen to Return

The Arbitration tribunal has taken the decision. The marines will remain under Supreme Court’s authority.

Italian Marines Massimiliano Latorre (left) and Salvatore Girone are charged with murder in India. (Photo: Reuters)

Italian marine Salvatore Girone, one of the two sailors under investigation on charges of killing two Indian fishermen during an anti-piracy mission in 2012, can return home, the Indian foreign ministry said on Monday.

A United Nations (UN) arbitration court had ruled earlier that India should release Girone, who has been detained in Delhi for more than four years.

Italian Marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone. (Photo: Reuters)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement:

While remaining under the authority of the Supreme Court of India, he may return to Italy for the duration of the present arbitration. The Tribunal confirmed Italy’s obligation to return him to India in case it was found that India had jurisdiction over him in respect of the incident.

According to the MEA statement, the two cannot leave Italy without the permission of the Supreme Court of India. Italy also needs to update the apex court about Girone’s whereabouts every three months, as directed by the Arbitral Tribunal.

In the future, Italy will be under an obligation to return Sergeant Girone to India, if the Tribunal finds India has jurisdiction over him.

The government is confident that the case will come under Indian jurisdiction. However, while that remains undecided, the government will study the tribunal’s order and approach the Supreme Court for further action.

(With Reuters inputs)