London : The Indian captain of an oil tanker seized by British commandos in the English Channel has been unfairly made a scapegoat, his wife told AFP, as he awaits trial in Britain on sanctions-related charges. Ajay Pant, 38, faces charges related to sanctions violations that carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. His trial is set to begin on December 15.
British commandos fast-roped from a helicopter on June 14 to intercept the sanctioned oil tanker Smyrtos, which was captained by Pant. The vessel is allegedly part of Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of ships with opaque ownership and insurance arrangements that Moscow is accused of using to evade oil sanctions imposed after its invasion of Ukraine. The Smyrtos sailed from Russia’s Ust-Luga port on June 5 and passed through the Baltic Sea, with Egypt’s Port Said listed as its destination.
British commandos intercepted the vessel. Then-prime minister Keir Starmer described the operation as “a blow to Russia”. Pant’s wife said her husband was a victim of the circumstances and was struggling in custody after being denied bail. “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’.” Prosecutors allege Pant was the “master of the ship” and knew about its cargo, which consisted of around 98,000 tonnes of oil.
The case raises complex legal questions and could become an important test as European countries intensify action against Russia’s shadow fleet. It is believed to be the first case in Europe in which sanctions-violation charges have been brought against a ship’s captain rather than only the vessel or its owners. India’s Foreign Ministry has said its consular officials visited Pant to enquire about his wellbeing. Pant is the only sailor from the vessel to have been charged. Most of the other 24 crew members have since been repatriated.
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