9 Pirates Sentenced Up to 14 years

Pirates attacked the Torm Kansas in 2013.

9 Pirates Sentenced Up to 14 years For Attempted Hijack Danish Tanker in 2013

DENMARK FAILED to prosecute nine pirates for an attack on the Danish-flagged tanker Torm Kansas and ordered to pay the pirates 20,000 Danish crowns (approx $3,247) in damages. The same pirates have now been sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Seychelles, according to Danish news agency, Ritzau.

One of the nine Somali pirates who is under age 18 has received a three year sentence in prison by the court in the Seychelles. The remaining eight pirates have each been given a sentence of 14 years.

The Danish warship, Esbern Snare, arrested the nine pirates 10 November 2013, after they had tried to hijack the Danish tanker ship Torm Kansas in the Indian Ocean.

At the time, the Danish warship Esbern Snare was on pirate patrol during NATO deployment. Danish police were involved in the case and the Public Prosecutor for Serious Economic and International Crime (Søik) targeted Somalis for piracy.

The pirates were remanded in custody in absentia in Copenhagen City Court on 23 Nov 2013, but were later released by the High Court and each received 20,000 Danish crowns in damages because they were held on Esbern Snare too long before being brought before a judge.

The warship took the pirates to the Seychelles for trial. During the trial, 15 crew members from Esbern Snare testified against the nine pirates. Torm, the shipping company which owns Torm Kansas, is very pleased that the pirates have been brought to justice.

“We are very pleased with the efforts by the defence and the authorities of Seychelles. The pirates have been given a trial and been convicted, which is very important, not least for the ship’s crew.

It is important for seafarers that it to happen, they often suffer from mental scars after an attack,” says technical director of Torm, Jesper S. Jensen, speaking to Ritzau.

It is the first time that pirates behind an attack on a Danish ship and kidnapping of Danish seamen were prosecuted and sent behind bars.

Original source: Ritzau (Denmark)

Source: oceanuslive.org