If convicted, the two Italianmarines facing murder charges in Kerala will be able toserve rest of their jail term in Italy, once the agreementbetween India and their country on transfer of sentencedprisoners comes into effect.
The agreement, which was notified December 17 last yearby India, will come into effect two months after the exchangeof diplomatic communications from both sides regardingcompletion of all process at their respective ends.
While Italy has already sent its diplomatic letterinforming India of completing its process to implement thepact, India is yet to send the same.
"We are in the process of completing our judicialprocess," official spokesperson in the Ministry of ExternalAffairs said when asked about the agreement and its impact onthe Italian marines.
The pact will not apply to convicts on death row.
The two Italian marines, Salvatore Girone andMassimiliano Latorre, were arrested on February 19 after theyshot and killed two Indian fishermen -- Ajesh Binki (25) andJelestine (45)-- off Alapuzha coast in Kerala on February 15from the merchant vessel 'Enrica Lexie'.
The incident resulted in Italian government taking up theissue with India strongly, both at diplomatic level as wellpolitical.