Chinese court frees 13 Indians, but sentences 9 to serve 3-6 years in prison (Update)

New Delhi, Dec.7 (ANI): A Chinese court has ordered the release of 13 of the 22 jailed Indian diamond merchants, but sentenced the remaining to serve prison tersm of between three to six years for smuggling diamonds into China.

According to the judgment that was passed today, 11 persons have been found innocent and will be deported within 15 days from China. Out of the remaining 11 persons, one person has been given a year and 11 month sentence and another person 2 years in prison, which means they will also be freed soon as they have already spent about two years in prison.

Six persons have been given prison sentences of three years, two have been awarded five years and one has been given six years in prison, a Government of Gujarat release said.

After being informed of the latest development in the matter, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said "During my visit to China in November, I took up the case of 22 Indian youth, who are lodged in Chinese jail, before the Chinese leadership purely on humanitarian ground. I emphasized that Indian nationals languishing in Chinese jail since last two years should be given speedy trial and they should get justice. I am thankful to the Chinese Government for expediting the trial and ensuring that judgment is delivered today."

The 22 Indian diamond traders, mostly from Surat and Mumbai, have been in a Chinese jail since January, 2010 on the alleged charge of smuggling diamonds into China.

Chinese authorities assured Modi that the judgment would be delivered without further delay.

Following Modi"s visit, the Chinese leadership allowed Indian envoy Dr. S. Jaishankar and India"s Counsel General in Guangzhou Indramani Pandey to meet the 22 detainees.

Earlier, some relatives of detainees had urged Modi to take up this issue with Chinese Government. They had also requested the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court to give a fair, lenient and sympathetic judgment.

The diamond traders, mostly Gujaratis, were arrested by Shenzhen customs officials for allegedly smuggling diamonds from Hong Kong to China on January 8, 2010. henzhen is a major city in China"s Guangdong province close to Hong Kong. (ANI)