Collision off coast: Two German sailors held; released on bail

A local court has granted conditional bail to two German sailors of a cargo ship, who were arrested in connection with a cargo vessel allegedly hitting an Indian fishing boat off the Chennai coast, leading to the death of a fisherman.
Master Wolfgang Albrecht and chief mate Steffen Hinfoth of 'M V Grietje' were arrested here yesterday, in connection with a mid-sea collision with the boat on March 16.
After they were produced before the court, metropolitan magistrate A Ramesh, initially remanded them in judicial custody, after which counsel for sailors sought bail for them, contending that the alleged offence was bailable.

Prosecution opposed the bail contending that the sailors might not be available for trial, as they were foreigners.
After hearing both sides, the judge noted that the sailors were remanded to judicial custody for the alleged offence under IPC Section 304(A) (causing death by negligence).
Since it was a bailable offence, the court was inclined to release them on bail on their executing a bond for Rs 5,000 each with two sureties each for a like sum, the judge said.

The sailors were also directed to report before the local police daily at 10 am until further orders.
Three fishermen on their boat were hit by a cargo ship in the early hours of March 16. While two of them managed to reach the shore, one Anandan died of drowning.

M V Grietje flying the Antigua and Barbuda flag allegedly passed through the area and is suspected to have hit the boat, leading to the fisherman's death.