Friday, August 30, 2013

Court reduces Somalia pirates' 20 year jail term to five

The 11 men who had been jailed for 20 years for piracy by a Mombasa court. The High Court reduced the sentence to five years. PHOTO/ GALGALO BOCHA

In Summary

Judge said the 20-years jail term was too harsh
The judge ordered the 11 be repatriated back to Somalia on completion of the sentence

PIRATES

By GALGALO BOCHA
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The Mombasa High Court on Friday slashed to five years a 20-year jail term handed to 11 Somalia pirates.
In his judgment, Justice Martin Muya said the 11 appellants, who were found guilty of attacking a vessel on the Indian Ocean in 2009, had been in remand for three years, hence found the 20-year sentence harsh.

Principal magistrate S.K. Gacheru gave the 20-year jail term on June 19, last year.
They appellants are Ahmed Abdikadir Hersi, Abdirahim Salat Roble, Abdullahi Yusuf, Mo - hamed Abdullahi, Mohamud Jama, Abdi Dahir Ahmed, Ahmed Maalim Omar, Ahmed Hassan Adow, Ahmed Mohamed Osman, Abshir Ahmed Hassan and Omar Ibrahim Jimale.

INDIAN OCEAN
They were charged with attacking the MV FNS Nivose on May 3, 2009 in the Indian Ocean while armed with two AK47 rifles, seven rocket propelled grenade launchers and a knife.

Judge on Friday concurred with the appellants’ submission that the presiding magistrate failed to consider that they are first offenders.
“I find the 20 years sentence as harsh and excessive and reduce to five years beginning from the date of their conviction,” ruled Justice Muya.
The judge ordered the 11 be repatriated back to Somalia on completion of the sentence.