Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Suspected Somali pirates charged in Mombasa

Nine suspected Somali pirates were Wednesday arraigned before a Mombasa court and charged with piracy activities in international waters.

The nine who appeared before senior resident magistrate Teresiah Mwangi, were charged that while armed with three AK rifles, one pistol, one RPG-7 portable rocket launcher, one SAR 80 rifle and one carabine rifle, they allegedly attacked a sailing vessel, MV Courier on March 10 this year.

The prosecution led by senior superintendent Samson Wandera urged the court not to release the accused on bail considering the nature of the offence, adding that though the offence is bailable the accused have no proper documentation showing their country of origin.

Through their lawyer Jared Magolo, the pirates pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The magistrate denied the accused bond and remanded them pending the hearing of their case in April.

The suspects were Mohamud Mohamed Hashi alias Dhodi, Mohamed Omi Aw-dahir alias Orod Dheer, Mohamed Dogoi Cade, Abdi Wahid, Mohamed Osman, Abdullahi shah Mohamed alias Indaguran, Abdirahman Mohamed Caser, Khadan Mohamed, Jama Abdi Razak Hassan alias Dawagoradi, Mohamed Cirfer Ismael alias Mohamed Abdullahi Ismael.

The suspects were handed over to Kenyan authorities on Tuesdayby the German Navy, five days after seven others were brought into the country by the United States.

So far 33 suspected Somali nationals are in Mombasa either in jail or being tried for crimes relating to piracy.

The European Union last Friday signed an agreement with Kenya providing for the handover of pirates seized off Somali waters for trial.

The United States entered into such an agreement with Kenya in January.

Currently there are nine pirates serving a seven year sentence at the Shimo La Tewa prison who have filed an appeal at the high court, while eight others arrested late last year are being tried for the crime at a Mombasa court.

Although there has been constitutional issues raised in regard to pirates being tried in the country, there is a provision in the Kenyan constitution which allows trial for international sea crimes.

After increased piracy activities in the Indian Ocean off Somali waters, the international community responded by deploying allied security forces in the area to cub hijacking of commercial ships.

Source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

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