Seven Somali pirates to be tried in Seychelles

  1. Posted on Tuesday 13 December 2011 - 10:50
    malan
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    Tatenda Malan, AfricaNews reporter in Windhoek, Namibia
    Seven suspected Somali pirates captured last week by a British navy arrived in Seychelles to face prosecution. The seven will be tried under an agreement between the UK and Seychelles. Under the agreement, Seychelles can consider accepting the transfer of pirate suspects where there is sufficient evidence to pursue a prosecution.
    Somalian pirates in Eyl. Photo by Sheekh Aduun
    British navy arrested the suspected pirates after a helicopter-led chase in the Indian Ocean.

    Britain’s navy RFA Fort Victoria ship was patrolling an area off the coast of Somalia and the Seychelles when it received information that a Spanish fishing vessel had come under attack by a group of pirate vessels.

    Warning shots were fired from a Royal Naval helicopter before Royal Marines from RFA Fort Victoria, supported by the helicopter, captured the vessels.

    Seychelles' Home affairs minister Joel Morgan said his country agreed to accept the seven suspected pirates for prosecution because piracy was a threat to Seychelles’ tuna fishing industry, according to the Seychelles Nation.

    “As we made clear in the past, these aggressive acts will not be tolerated and we will fulfill our responsibilities to protect our economic interests and the people who work within the maritime sector and bring these men to justice,” he said.

    British high commissioner to Seychelles Matthew Forbes was quoted as saying he was pleased British forces were able to thwart the attack.

    “Seychelles’ willingness to prosecute pirates serves as an excellent example to other states and we are working with our international partners to ensure that convicted pirates can be repatriated to Somalia to serve their sentences."

    Piracy is rife in the Indian Ocean, particularly off the coast of Somalia.

    Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991 and Islamist insurgents control much of the south and centre of the country.

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