MADURAI: A fisherman from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu was released by Sri Lanka on the National Prisoners’ Day in the island nation on Sept 12. The fisherman, Sahaya Robert, 49, of Thangachimadam, returned to his native town on Thursday.
Robert was part of the five-member crew of a fishing trawler from Rameswaram detained by the Sri Lankan navy on July 23. When they were produced before Oorkavalthurai court in Sri Lanka on Aug 29 after their judicial remand ended, the court released four fishermen on condition that they should never return to Sri Lankan waters for fishing.
However, Robert was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and a fine since he was arrested for the second time. He was convicted for repeated offences of trespassing and poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Sri Lanka released 359 prisoners on the National Prisoners Day, mostly detained for minor crimes. Govt granted them a public pardon. Robert, lodged in Welikada prison, was one among them.
After the release, he was handed over to the Indian embassy in Colombo and repatriated. He reached Chennai on Tuesday. Fisheries officials arranged his travel to Rameswaram from Chennai.