18 WITNESSES TO DEPOSE THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCING

MUMBAI: A city sessions court has allowed the prosecution to examine foreign witnesses in the Somali pirates case through video conferencing. On Tuesday, the court asked the prosecution to make the necessary arrangements at Indian embassies abroad to examine the 18 witnesses through video conferencing.

“The prosecution is permitted to arrange for recording of evidence of the witnesses on video conferencing who are abroad,” the order stated.

“The court has given us a month’s time from November 20 to December 20, to examine all 18 foreign witnesses,” said special public prosecutor, Ranjeet Sangle.

The application granted by the court, had prayed to direct the ministry of home affairs and ministry of external affairs to instruct Indian missions in Thailand, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pakistan and Iran as well as their respective counterparts in India to ensure the presence of the witnesses in the Indian missions in the countries.

Presence of interpreters in the Indian missions was also pursued by the prosecution in the application for swift recording of evidence through video conferencing.

“A dedicated court room will also be allotted for the video conferencing of the witnesses with proper infrastructure, functioning and technical personnel to avoid last minute confusions and rush,” Sangle added.

The court directed additional commissioner of police, Krishna Prakash, and Sangle to co-ordinate with the respective ambassadors, consul generals and high commissioners to discuss the programme and make arrangements.

The prosecution had filed an application for video conferencing of the 18 foreign nationals from six countries as despite making financial and logistical arrangements to get the witnesses to India, the prosecution was given the cold shoulder by foreign embassies.