Somali pirates get 20 years in prison
Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:06:47 GMT
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Eight Somali pirates get 20 years in prison for piracy charges. |
A Kenyan court in the coastal city of Mombasa has sentenced eight Somalis to 20 years in prison over piracy charges.
The detained Somalis were arrested in November 2008 and were accused of attempting to hijack a Danish-registered vessel, the MV Powerful in the Gulf of Aden, and risking the lives of crews of the vessel.
"The offence of piracy is serious and carries a life imprisonment but because they are young and family men, I sentence each of them to 20 years imprisonment," Press TV correspondent quoted Senior Principal Magistrate Lilian Mutende as saying.
However, the pirates defense council led by Kenyan lawyer Jared Magolo argued that it would appeal against the judgment, which it termed as error.
"I will file an appeal against the judgment and I am confident that the high court will correct the errors," said Magolo, arguing that the magistrate had no jurisdiction over the cases.
"They have been in custody for a period of two years in very difficult circumstances in a foreign country. Having them in custody would be a burden to the taxpayers," Magolo added.
Kenya, which has signed international agreements with the United States, the European Union, Britain and other states to prosecute pirates on behalf of foreign countries, has previously delivered jail sentences to several Somali pirates who are now held in different prison facilities in the country.
AO/MMA
The detained Somalis were arrested in November 2008 and were accused of attempting to hijack a Danish-registered vessel, the MV Powerful in the Gulf of Aden, and risking the lives of crews of the vessel.
"The offence of piracy is serious and carries a life imprisonment but because they are young and family men, I sentence each of them to 20 years imprisonment," Press TV correspondent quoted Senior Principal Magistrate Lilian Mutende as saying.
However, the pirates defense council led by Kenyan lawyer Jared Magolo argued that it would appeal against the judgment, which it termed as error.
"I will file an appeal against the judgment and I am confident that the high court will correct the errors," said Magolo, arguing that the magistrate had no jurisdiction over the cases.
"They have been in custody for a period of two years in very difficult circumstances in a foreign country. Having them in custody would be a burden to the taxpayers," Magolo added.
Kenya, which has signed international agreements with the United States, the European Union, Britain and other states to prosecute pirates on behalf of foreign countries, has previously delivered jail sentences to several Somali pirates who are now held in different prison facilities in the country.
AO/MMA
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