By FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Monday, September 09, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) -- An alleged Somali pirate is back in jail, less than 24 hours after he was released pending trial.
Last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle ordered Ali Mohamed Ali released from custody. Huvelle said that Ali's continued pretrial detention -- 28 months and counting -- violates his rights under the Constitution's due process clause.
But the next day, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted a government motion to return him to custody. It did not provide a reason for the decision. Ali was picked up Friday afternoon, his lawyer said.
Last year, a different appeals court panel had ordered Ali back to jail after an earlier order by Huvelle to release him.
Jury selection in Ali's trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 31.
Source: AP