Fully 27 months since they were first detained in India the 35 men onboard US private security vessel Seaman Guard Ohio today were all handed down five year hard labour jail sentences and fines of Rs3,000 ($45).
A judge at Thoothukudi Principal Sessions Court convicted the men on charges of possessing arms without proper license and for not providing proper evidence for its anti-piracy operation.
The men were working for US firm AdvanFort, the owners of the ship, which was transiting Indian waters when apprehended in October, 2013.
Lawyers of the convicted will appeal the verdict at the High Court as early as possible. The crewmembers are a mix of citizens from the UK, Ukraine and Estonia.
The case has taken a very long time to finish, being tossed around various judicial levels before finally getting underway.
