Odisha court grants bail to four Filipinos arrested for using Thuraya satellite phone

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Berhampur, Oct 23:

The Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) court in Odisha’s Chhatrapur today granted bail to four Philippines nationals who were arrested by Marine Police earlier in the day in Gopalpur for using banned Thuraya satellite phone for communication.

According to reports, the four men have been identified as Second Officer Nathaniel A. Faza (38), Chief Petty Officer Librado P. Jemina (37), Chief Cook Eduardo S. Gruspe (46), and Seaman Jescel B. Bautista (34).

All four arrested men serve aboard MV Fortune that had docked in Gopalpur Port to carry black sands from the Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL). They were arrested after they were found using Thuraya Satellite phone, said the police.

It may be mentioned here that use of Thuraya satellite phones is banned in Indian territorial waters under Section 6 of the Indian Wireless Act and Section 20 of the Indian Telegraph Act.

Earlier on June 24, yet another four Philippines nationals were arrested by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) for using satellite phone to send messages and photos to other countries from Dhamra port in Odisha’s Bhadrak district. The arrested persons, all members of a Panama-based vessel, were later granted bail the next day.