The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea by an Italian marine seeking extension of stay in Italy on health grounds.
Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre, who is facing murder charges in India, had sought two months’ extension of his stay in Italy for undergoing heart surgery on January 8.
Latorre was allowed by the Supreme Court, on September 12 this year, to travel to Italy for treatment after he suffered a brain stroke under custody in August. While his bail is due to expire on January 13 next year, Latorre had sought an extension of the same by four months to stay in his home country to undergo heart surgery.
The SC also rejected the plea by another Italian marine Salvatore Girone, who had sought the apex court’s nod to go to Italy for celebrating Christmas.
The SC observed during the hearing of the pleas that “this does not happen anywhere in the world”.
Following Supreme Court’s remarks, the lawyers for both the marines withdrew the pleas.
The case pertains to the killing of two Indian fishermen allegedly by Latorre and Girone on board ship ‘Enrica Lexie’ off Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.
