Saskia Houttuin
27 July 2011
The Dutch Public prosecutor demands a sentence of 10 years for the skipper, 8 years for three of the suspects and 7 years for the fifth remaining suspect.
The five Somali pirates appeared in Rotterdam court for seizing the South African yacht Choizil. They were stopped on the coast near Tanzania by the Dutch vessel ‘Amsterdam’.
Although the suspects deny, two of the five suspects admitted they were on their way to hijack a boat, before they were stopped.
According to the Dutch navy, the Somalis were in a small boat with 15 others, after they got off the seized yacht.
Before the Marines reached them, it is thought the suspects may have thrown the weapons they were carrying overboard. The other fifteen occupants were released earlier due to lack of evidence.
The captain of the Choizil was rescued, but two other crew members disappeared. The prosecuter believes the pirates took the crew with them on shore.
The verdict is due on Friday, 12th August, 2011.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Dutch Prosecutor Calls for Stiff Jail Term for Pirates