THOOTHUKUDI:Hearing on the seized American private security ship, MV Seaman Guard Ohio, was postponed on Wednesday to August 24 by the District Sessions Court, here.
District Judge N Rajasekar, who heard the case for the first time after it was transferred from the Judicial Magistrate-I court, postponed the hearing and ordered all the 43 accused in the case to appear on August 24.
Earlier, the judge inquired about the accused and their lawyers. The judge was informed that for the ship’s captain, Dudnik Valentine, accused number 1, Tilak would be the lawyer. For accused 2 to 11, Subramaniya Adithan; for accused 12-35 Arumuga Ram; for accused 36 Jude Ponniah; and for accused 41-42 Poonkumar would be the lawyers.
When the judge inquired whether lawyers should be arranged for the remaining accused, the judge was informed that the accused would arrange them themselves. The judge then wanted the memo of appearance. As the lawyers did not have it they prepared one and submitted it.
The judge asked the representatives from Estonian and British embassies whether they needed translators, but the lawyers said they could manage on their own. Following the inquiries the judge postponed the hearing. The ship was intercepted on October 11, 2013 near Thoothukudi coast and was found to be loaded with arms and ammunition. The next day the crew was arrested and questioned by the Q branch.