Estonians out on bail in India

  • 2014-04-07
  • From wire reports, TALLINN

Estonian anti-piracy guards who were detained in India in the middle of October were released from a Chennai prison on Saturday, April 5, on bail, reports Public Broadcasting. They will stay in Chennai and their employer, Advanfort, will organize their accommodation.

Estonian New Delhi Embassy Consul Margus Sarglepp said that according to the conditions of the bail, the men have to stay in Chennai and register their presence at the local police department twice a day, at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

"This is their situation till the next court decision. It isn’t known at the moment when the next court decision might come but the defense lawyer has submitted an application on dropping charges and the hearing takes place next week," said Sarglepp.

The Indian coastguard detained on Oct. 12 last year anti-piracy ship Seaman Guard Ohio, sailing under the Sierra Leone flag, on the board of which there were 35 people. On Oct. 18, 33 people, including 14 Estonian anti-piracy armed guards, were imprisoned for a preliminary investigation for illegally entering Indian waters as well as several other violations.