SC cancels bail of Swiss paedophiles

The Supreme Court today cancelled the bail of Swiss paedophile couple Wilhelm (62) and Lile Marti (60)—convicted in March 2003 by a Mum...

The Supreme Court today cancelled the bail of Swiss paedophile couple Wilhelm (62) and Lile Marti (60)—convicted in March 2003 by a Mumbai Sessions Court—and asked the Maharashtra police to issue a non-bailable warrant against them, and get the Centre’s help on extraditing them.

The court was hearing a special petition moved by Maharashtra government following reports in The Indian Express on April 2 and 3 that the Swiss couple—nabbed in a suburban hotel room abusing minor street girls—fled the country in November 2004, their passports still in a local court’s possession.

Their escape was in direct violation of a Supreme Court order that had granted them bail in April 2004 (see box) but barred them from leaving the country. The paper’s reports had been attached as annexures.

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‘‘The court today heard the matter at length and cancelled the interim bail granted to them (the Martis) pending hearing of the matter,’’ said Advocate Ravindra Adsure, who appeared for Maharashtra.

When contacted, Police Commissioner A N Roy said, ‘‘We are yet to get news of the order.’’

The petition also drew the court’s attention that when arguing against granting bail to the couple last April, it had expressed the apprehension that ‘‘it would be difficult to secure their custody back, if they flee from India’’.

Today Altaf Sheikh of the NGO Saathi, associated with the investigation, said the order was a belated redressal.

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‘‘The chances of getting them back seem very slim,’’ said Sheikh. ‘‘Bail shouldn’t have been granted in the first place given the heinous nature of the couple’s crimes. But our hope is the state will take this to its logical conclusion and the order might set a correct precedent in the future.’’

THE MARTI SAGA

DECEMBER 16 2000: Mumbai police raid a suburban hotel room with a team of NGOs, find Wilhelm and Lili Marti naked state with two street girls (9 and 11). The couple were preparing child-porn images

MARCH 28 2003: A Sessions Court finds the couple guilty, sentences them to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment, and orders Rs 5,000 compensation to each of their six child victims

MARCH 23 2004: The Bombay High Court (HC) accepts an offer by the Martis to pay Rs 1 lakh compensation to each victim in return for being set free.

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APRIL 5 2004: The Maharashtra Advocate General challenges the order in Supreme Court, which stays the HC order, grants the couple bail till it can hear the entire matter.