New Delhi: Indian embassy officials from Accra (Ghana) today met the jailed Indian sailor Captain Sunil James in a jail in Togo and later said they were in touch with Togo government to secure his early release on “compassionate grounds”.
Captain Sunil James has been jailed in the west African country of Togo since July this year on charge of aiding sea pirates who had attacked and looted his Marshall Islands-flagged MT Ocean Centurion on July 16.
Sunil James' 31-year-old wife Aditi and others in the family want James to conduct the last rites of his son Vivaan whose body is lying in a hospital morgue since the toddler's death from septicaemia on December 2.
Vivaan, underwent an operation for intestinal gangrene but doctors could not save him as the infection had spread to his bloodstream.
The Indian embassy officials, including one from the Mission in Accra, met Capt Sunil James in jail, sources said, adding they were making all efforts to secure the release and will continue to pursue the matter with Togo authorities.
The Indian Mission in Accra was overseeing the developments in the case, a spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said had said yesterday.
The spokesperson said the mission and India's Honorary Consul in Lome have been in touch with Togo authorities including the Minister of Justice since August 2, when the matter came to their attention.
