Begin typing your search...
35 US ship crew sentenced to five-year jail term
After more than two years, a local court here on Monday day sentenced all the 35 crew members to 5-year rigorous imprisonment in the sensational US company-owned ship Seaman Guard Ohio case, which was arrested for illegally entering Indian waters with huge cache of arms.
By
migrator
migrator
Thoothukudi
According to the prosecution, the Seaman Ohio, with a pile of arms and 35 crew on board, illegally entered the Indian territorial waters and it was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard off Tuticorin port.Â
A case under charges under the Arms Act and Essential Commodities Act, which was invoked as the ship had allegedly bought diesel from a local agent in violation of law. US firm AdvanFort International, which owns the ship, had been maintaining that the vessel was involved in anti-piracy operations and had not strayed into Indian waters.
It was arrested on October 18, 2013 and the crew was produced before a local court. Later, the crew was obtained conditional bail from the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in March, 2014.Â
Judge Rajasekhar, after hearing both the sides and while delivering the verdict on Monday, awarded 5 years RI to all the 35 crew and also imposed a fine of Rs 3,000 each on the members, including 12 Indians, three Ukrainians, six Britons and 14 Estonian nationals.Â
Troubled Waters
- OCT 12, 2013: US ship intercepted by the ICG off Tuticorin port with arms. Vessel taken to VOC Port with crew and ‘guards’.Â
- JULY 10, 2014: Charges against  crew and guards rejected by HC.Â
- JULY 1, 2015: HC’s 2014  judgment set aside by SC.Â
- JAN 11, 2016: All 35 crew members sentenced to 5-yr RI by a Thoothukudi court.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android
Next Story
