Six Britons released from Indian prison

SIX British men have been released from an Indian prison on Tuesday (28) after a high court overturned their five-year jail sentences on Monday (27).

The men were acquitted by a court, alongside 29 others, of illegal possession of arms while they were on a US-operated anti-piracy boat.

The men were collected from prison by British embassy officials on Tuesday and were seen being driven away.

"Officials from the UK embassy came and took them after completing their paperwork," Murugesan, deputy inspector general of prisons in the southeastern city of Chennai, told an international news source.

The six Britons, three Ukrainians, 14 Estonians and 12 Indians were given five-year jail terms by a lower court in Tamil Nadu state in south India in January 2016.

The Indian coast guard intercepted the privately run MV Seaman Guard Ohio off the coast of Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu in October 2013.

Semi-automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition were found.

The crew were charged with not having proper paperwork to carry weapons in Indian waters, but India has faced intense diplomatic pressure over the case ever since.

Twenty-three of the men were detained in Chennai's Puzhal prison, while the remaining 12 were at Palayamkottai Central Prison in Tirunelveli.

The MV Seaman Guard Ohio was chartered to protect ships crossing the Indian Ocean at a time of increased risk from pirate attacks.

The six Britons were former soldiers working as guards on the vessels.

The 35, except the Ukrainian captain and one Briton, were released on bail in 2014 on condition that they stayed in Chennai.

An Indian court quashed the charges against the crew in July 2014, but the Supreme Court overturned that ruling the following year and ordered their trial which led to the prison terms.

US maritime security firm AdvanFort, which owns the Seaman Guard Ohio vessel, denied the charges, saying all firearms on board were legally purchased and properly documented.

The Estonian government in October summoned the Indian ambassador in Tallinn to complain about the slow pace of the case. Britain had also made approaches to India over the case.

In London, a spokesman for prime minister Theresa May said: "The government, from the prime minister down, has worked hard for over four years to support the men and their families and we share their happiness at the court's decision to give a full acquittal to each of the men."

Britain was "working with the Indian authorities to discuss the next steps. We will continue to offer the men and their families consular assistance for as long as it is needed", they added.

Yvonne McHugh, partner of Billy Irving, said she was "over the moon" at the news of the acquittal on Monday.

"We are just waiting to hear how soon they'll be home," she said.

"I won't be able to speak to him until he's out of prison, we just want them home as soon as possible. I'm absolutely ecstatic and feel proud we've managed to do this after four years."

The southern tip of India is close to major trading routes from Asia to Europe and many cargo ships have armed guards and vessels to deter pirates.

(AFP)