Dutch release Somali pirates

  1. Posted on Saturday 19 December 2009 - 11:30
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Suspected Somali pirates arrested by the Dutch navy have been freed after no country has agreed to prosecute them, Dutch officials said.The Dutch defence ministry said in statement that European Union had decided that the 13 prisoners had to be released because it was not possible to bring charges.
    pirates
    The suspects who were held in the Indian Ocean two weeks ago were accused hijack attempt on a cargo ship.

    The European Union also said that they tried in vain since their arrest to get a country which would accept to prosecute them.

    "The defence ministry regrets that the European Union has not found a suitable solution," EU said in the statement.

    Defence officials reported that the EU had signed agreements with the Seychelles and Kenya to help press charges against suspected pirates detained in the region but the countries said that they did not want to prosecute the pirates.

    Somali bandits have made tens of millions of dollars for a ransom payment after hijacked ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

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