The 11 men who had been jailed for 20 years for piracy by a Mombasa
court. The High Court reduced the sentence to five years. PHOTO/ GALGALO
BOCHA
Saturday, August 31, 2013
The Mombasa High Court on Friday slashed to five years a 20-year jail term handed to 11 Somalia pirates.
In
his judgment, Justice Martin Muya said the 11 appellants, who were
found guilty of attacking a vessel on the Indian Ocean in 2009, had been
in remand for three years, hence found the 20-year sentence harsh.
Principal magistrate S.K. Gacheru gave the 20-year jail term on June 19, last year.
They
appellants are Ahmed Abdikadir Hersi, Abdirahim Salat Roble, Abdullahi
Yusuf, Mo - hamed Abdullahi, Mohamud Jama, Abdi Dahir Ahmed, Ahmed
Maalim Omar, Ahmed Hassan Adow, Ahmed Mohamed Osman, Abshir Ahmed Hassan
and Omar Ibrahim Jimale.
INDIAN OCEAN
They
were charged with attacking the MV FNS Nivose on May 3, 2009 in the
Indian Ocean while armed with two AK47 rifles, seven rocket propelled
grenade launchers and a knife.
Judge on Friday
concurred with the appellants’ submission that the presiding magistrate
failed to consider that they are first offenders.
“I find the 20
years sentence as harsh and excessive and reduce to five years beginning
from the date of their conviction,” ruled Justice Muya.
The judge ordered the 11 be repatriated back to Somalia on completion of the sentence.