Ambalappuzha Judicial First Class Magistrate, V.Udayakumaron Friday remanded Prasobh Sugathan, second officer of Prabhu Daya,which allegedly rammed a fishing boat off Alappuzha coast on March 1 killing five fishermen, to judicial custody till March 29.
He was later shifted to the Alappuzha sub-jail.
The magistrate also asked the jail superintendent to arrange for medical help in case of such demand by Prasobh. The counsel for Prasobh, Priyadarshan Thampy had sought medical aid for his client as the health of Prasobh, the first accused in the case, is in a very poor condition. The counsel also produced the medical records of Prasobh while he was under treatment in Srilanka after he had fallen off the ship and subsequently rescued. Prasobh was on duty at the time of the accident. Sources said that there were contradictions in the statement given by Prasobh to the police.
The police moved an application seeking police custody of Prasobh on Friday. This will be taken up by the court on Monday. Sources said that police are likely to question three of the accused together as and when Prasobh himself is released to police custody.
Ambalappuzha police which had shifted Prasobh at the Ambalappuzha police station on Thursday night from Police Club here produced before the Court at around 9 a.m. With Prasobh's arrest all the three accused in the mid-sea ship-boat collision had been arrested.
The court which heard the application of Ambalappuzha police seeking custody of Gordon Charles Pereira, captain of the ship and the third accused in the case, released him to police custody till March 23. The court also extended the police custody of Mayur Veerendra Kumar, seaman and second accused in the case, to March 20.
The court observed that the captain was satisfied with the facilities at the Alappuzha sub-jail and hence need not be given more preferential treatment. The counsel of the captian had earlier moved the court seeking that `B' class treatment be made available to him as the captain is a high-level official of the ship and that he is drawing a salary of Rs 5 lakh per month.
Meanwhile, Sugathan, father of Prasobh as well as Prasobh’s relatives met him while he was produced at the Court. Sugathan, who was staying in Alappuzha since Thursday, told The Hindu that his son, who was tense after having gone through such an ordeal, had a relief after meeting him and his relatives.
