SC grants bail to Swiss paedophile couple

Though the Bombay High Court verdict reducing their sentence in exchange for compensation to the victims remains stayed, the Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to the Swiss couple convicted for sexually exploiting children and making pornographic material but asked them not to leave the country.

A bench headed by CJI V.N. Khare directed that the passports of Wilhelm Albin Marty (61) and Loshiar Lili Marie Marty (58) not be returned to them pending the disposal of the appeal filed by the Maharashtra government against the HC judgment.

This is to ensure that the Martys are available if the apex court eventually allows the appeal and requires them to serve the remaining three years of their seven-year term imposed on them by the trial court.

The next hearing is expected only after the court’s summer vacation.