The Supreme Court today said the Italian marine, Salvatore Girone, under investigation in Indian embassy for the killing of two Indian fishermen is free to go to his native country, Italy, while the international arbitration into the case is ongoing.
A two-judge vacation bench of the apex court ruled that the United Nations Tribunal would decide on the jurisdictional issue between India and Italy. The court also asked Italian Ambassador to file a fresh undertaking that Girone will return to India if Tribunal decides in India’s favour.
Girone was one of the two marines along with Massimiliano Lattore, arrested in February 2012 on suspicion of killing two Indian fishermen in Kerala during an anti-piracy mission on an Italian oil tanker, Enrica Lexie. The other marine, Lattore, is already back in Italy on orders of Supreme Court till September 30, after suffering health problems.