'My husband became scapegoat': Wife of Indian captain of Russian fleet arrested in UK
PTC News Desk: The Indian captain of an oil tanker seized by British commandos in the English Channel has been accused of breaking sanctions laws. His wife, however, says he has been made a scapegoat and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Ajay Pant, 38, has been charged with sanctions-related offences that could lead to a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. His trial is set to begin on December 15.
“He was broken and he was just crying,” she told AFP, recalling their first phone call after his arrest. “He didn't know what had happened to him... He just said, ‘I am in jail, please take me out’.”
Pant was the captain of the oil tanker Smyrtos, which British commandos intercepted on June 14. Authorities allege that the vessel was part of Russia's so-called “shadow fleet”, a network of ships accused of helping Russia bypass oil sanctions imposed after the Ukraine war.
The ship had reportedly left Russia's Ust-Luga port on June 5 and was heading towards Egypt's Port Said with around 98,000 tonnes of oil when it was stopped in the English Channel.
Pant's wife, Ritu, says her husband was only doing his job and following the orders of the ship's owners. She said his responsibility was to safely transport the cargo and that he should not be blamed for decisions made by others.
Prosecutors, however, claim that as the ship's captain, Pant knew about the cargo and its movement. He has been denied bail and remains in custody.
The case could become an important legal test as European countries increase action against Russia's shadow fleet. Pant is believed to be the first ship captain in Europe to face sanctions-violation charges, rather than the ship or its owners.
He is the only crew member to be charged, while most of the other 24 crew members have been sent back to their home countries. India's Foreign Ministry has said that Indian consular officials have met Pant to check on his wellbeing.
- PTC NEWS
