New Delhi: Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance: External Affairs Ministry.

A Qatar Court has commuted the death sentence for eight former Indian Navy personnel in an alleged espionage case, as announced by the External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday.

The ministry stated, ‘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

In October, the Court of First Instance in Qatar sentenced eight former Indian Navy personnel to death in an alleged espionage case.

The Indian nationals, employed by Dahra Global in Doha, were arrested in August 2022, with the specific charges against them not disclosed by Qatari authorities.

India had moved the Court of Appeal in Qatar against the death sentence last month.

“Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities,” the statement said.

Noting that a detailed judgement was awaited, the ministry said it was in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps.

“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,” the MEA said.