FUJAIRAH, UAE, May 15, 2006 -- The Fujairah Criminal Court yesterday looked into the case of the 31-year-old sailor Sudheer Nonia Jaganathan, who was killed on board the Norwegian oil tanker Champion Pioneer on February 6.

The captain of the ship identified as Naresh Malhotra and six other sailors are charged with murdering the sailor, a mechanic hailing from India five days after he joined the ship.

However, the court, at yesterday's hearing ordered the adjournment of the case to next month. Being a novice in marine work, the murdered sailor was allegedly infuriated and could not control himself. The captain, apparently angered by his conduct, gave orders to six of his crew to beat him and lock him up. Court records showed that on February 13, the shipping agent of Champion Pioneer MT Ship reported the death of a sailor on board to the local authorities at Fujairah Port. The ship was still standing in the international waters, flying the Norwegian flag, and fully loaded with oil coming from India.

The captain and other six sailors, were held in Fujairah Police custody the moment the ship was unloaded. The dead sailor's body was transferred to Fujairah Hospital where forensics proved that he was beaten to death. Interrogations also revealed that the sailor attacked the captain in his cabin at midnight which provoked the captain to order his crew to beat, tie, and lock up their colleague in one of the machinery rooms. Three hours later, when one of the six sailors involved in beating him up went to give him water, he found him dead.

"Having had a brainstorm, followed by agitation, the sailor attacked me. He was not accustomed to marie work as he had joined us five days before the accident," the captain told the authorities.

Source: Khaleej Times