Pirates get 20 years each |01 March 2011

Sentencing them, judge Duncan Gaswaga said they were convicted on two separate counts of piracy contrary to Section 65 of the Penal Code.

“The prosecution had proved that from November 16-20, 2010 the accused persons were forcefully in command of a Seychellois vessel, Faith, and its seven-member crew when they were intercepted by the Seychelles Coast Guard on their way to Somalia,” he said.

Mr Gaswaga accepted the defence counsel’s plea of mitigation for the accused, saying he would “be lenient to the accused and consider them as first offenders who are also relatively young and would need another chance to reform and rejoin society”.

“Counsel submitted this was a sad case involving young people originating from a failed state (Somalia), which the international community has abandoned,” he said.

“The accused were used, becoming victims of unscrupulous people and warlords.

“Although the court understands their situation at home, this does not mean the way out of it is piracy, which has inflicted and continues to inflict pain and suffering on humanity in different ways.”

Minister for Home Affairs, Environment, Transport and Energy Joel Morgan welcomed the outcome, saying: “The sentences will send a strong message to other pirates on the high seas that we have the capacity to capture, prosecute and jail criminals at sea who threaten our key fisheries and tourism industries.

“We will continue to use the resources we have to the maximum under the direction of our President, James Michel, to ensure the criminals who are threatening our livelihood are dealt with by our judicial system.”

When the Faith was captured, Mr Michel said: “Never again will our people be taken to suffer in Somalia as long as I am President,” and he ordered the coast guard to chase the pirated fishing boat.

The pursuit led to an exchange of fire after which a Somali pirate died as the 10 were captured and Seychellois rescued.

Mr Morgan said now that Seychelles and Somali have signed an agreement allowing transfer of convicted pirates, the 10 will eventually be sent back to Somalia.

He said pirates make up more than 10% of our prison population, and it is costing the Seychellois taxpayer money to jail them here.

“But we will wait until the prison facilities and other arrangements in Somalia are ready, as we do not want to repatriate them only for them to be released or allowed to serve shorter sentences,” he said.

The jailed pirates are Nur Mohamed Aden, Ali Mohamed Ali, Abdi Ahmed Farah, Farhan Yousuf Ali, Jamal Mohamed Ali, Bashir Khalif Hashi – also known as Atomic – Mohamed Ahmed Ali – also known as Lugadeere – Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan, Abdifatah Ahmed Hassan and Abdi Rizak Mohamed Ali.