INTERTANKO applauds first European jail sentences for Somali pirates

News Release INTERTANKO London June 19, 2010

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<A name=OLE_LINK2></A><A name=OLE_LINK1>INTERTANKO
applauds first European jail sentences for Somali
pirates</A>
It has been reported
that the five Somali pirates recently tried by
the Rotterdam courts for the failed hijack of the Sananyolu, have been sentenced to five
years’ imprisonment. 
This could turn out
to be a landmark case, since apparently
the crew did not attend to give evidence in person but provided written
testimony, and also since the pirates apparently threw their weapons over the
side but evidence from the frigate’s crew that they had used them
prevailed.
The pirates attacked
the 3,254 dwt general cargo vessel, a Dutch Antilles flagged ship, in
January last year. The pirates were intercepted by a Danish frigate and
European warrants for their arrest were subsequently issued by the Netherlands.
At trial, they alleged that they were simply fishing, despite evidence of using
heavy weaponry against the vessel. 
“INTERTANKO
applauds this very positive step”
says INTERTANKO Marine Director Capt Howard Snaith, “which indicates the willingness of a European
nation to adhere to its obligations under international law to deliver justice
to the pirates.” 
It may also provide
a good measure of the evidence required in order to secure prosecution and
conviction. Implications can and will be drawn from the possession of rifles and
grenades by those who allege they are just fishing in piracy infested waters.

“We
therefore hope that this will lead to successful prosecutions becoming the norm
for both actual and attempted hijackings,” concludes
Snaith.</DIV></BODY></HTML>