Pirates trial: Foreign witnesses will be state guests

Perhaps in a first, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned around Rs21 lakh to arrange for accommodation, travel and other expenses of foreign nationals from six countries to will be witnesses in Somali pirates case which is currently under trial in Mumbai.

A total of 120 Somalis are lodged in Taloja prison for hijacking vessels, murder and abducting sailors in four cases. Arrests in all the four cases were made by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard from Indian waters on the western coast between January to April 2011.

The foreign nationals coming to the city are sailors who were held hostage by the pirates. They will be coming from Thailand, Iran, Pakistan, Mozambique, Myanmar and Indonesia.

“Foreign sailors accompanied with representatives from their embassies will come to Mumbai to help take the case to a logical conclusion. Technically, it is the first time that the state government has approved funds of Rs20.95 lakh to arrange for accommodation, travel and other expenses of foreign witnesses,” said special public prosecutor Ranjeet Sangle.

In the first batch, six Mozambique nationals will depose, followed by the sailors from other countries.

While three countries —  Mozambique, Indonesia and Iran — have agreed to send the witnesses to the city, the other three — Thailand, Pakistan and Myanmar — are yet to respond to the state’s letters and summons.

“In all, around 20 witnesses from the three countries will help with their statements in Sewri court,” added Sangle.

The four cases in which arrests were made are Prantalay 11, Prantalay 14, Vega 5 and Morteza. The four fishing trawlers were used by Somali pirates as mother vessels to hijack merchant ships.

@DNA