9 Somalis given 22-year jail terms for piracy

Dec 17, 2010 |

Nairobi

Tags:

David Esparon

A court on the island nation of Seychelles has found nine Somali pirates guilty of piracy and sentenced them each to 22 years in jail.

Acting attorney general David Esparon on Friday said that the court rejected pirates' claims of innocence after hearing consistent accounts from witnesses.

Mr Esparon said the men hijacked two vessels in March, a Seychelles fishing boat, galate, and an Iranian ship, Al-Ahmadi.

The pirates first commandeered galate to Somalia until it ran out of fuel. They then refuelled it after capturing the Iranian ship.

A Seychelles coast guard patrol boat, Topaz, rescued the crew of both vessels on March 29 after exchanging fire with the pirates.

Mr Esparon said 15 suspected Somali pirates are still awaiting trial.

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