NEW DELHI: A Qatari court has commuted the death sentences of eight former Indian Navy officers who were convicted earlier this year in an alleged case of espionage.
The former naval officers, who worked for Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy, a private company engaged in maritime services, were arrested by Qatar's intelligence services in August last year and a court awarded them the death penalty on Oct 26 this year.
"We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.
The Indian ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present when the Court of Appeal dropped the death sentence against the eight men.
The ministry said it has stood by the arrested men since the beginning of the matter and will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to them.
"Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture," it said.
It is not publicly known what the specific charges against the Indians are but as per media reports they have been charged with spying for Israel about Qatar's submarine project.
Qatar, an influential political player in the Middle East and the wider region, does not have formal relations with Israel.
