Qatar frees eight ex-Indian navy officers held in high-profile security case

NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Qatar has freed eight former Indian officers who were held in a high-profile security case.

A Qatari court in December commuted the death sentences given to the eight convicts.

The case's details are not publicly known but as per media reports they were charged with spying for Israel about Qatar's submarine acquisition project.

"The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

It said India appreciates the decision by Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani "to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals."

They were arrested by Qatar's intelligence services in August 2022 and a court awarded them the death penalty on October 26 last year.

The court of appeal in December converted their death penalty to prison sentences.

-- BERNAMA