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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jail sentence for Somali pirates | Jail sentence for Somali pirates |
| (4 days later) | |
| Ten Somalis have been sentenced to seven years in jail for piracy and hijacking by a Kenyan court. | Ten Somalis have been sentenced to seven years in jail for piracy and hijacking by a Kenyan court. |
| The men were arrested earlier this year by the US Navy which responded to a reported hijack off the Somali coast. | The men were arrested earlier this year by the US Navy which responded to a reported hijack off the Somali coast. |
| The pirates had maintained they were fisherman and had not held 16 crew members of an Indian ship for ransom. | The pirates had maintained they were fisherman and had not held 16 crew members of an Indian ship for ransom. |
| Somalia's coastline is one of the world's worst areas for piracy, but incidents have declined since the Islamic courts rose to power in June. | Somalia's coastline is one of the world's worst areas for piracy, but incidents have declined since the Islamic courts rose to power in June. |
| The BBC's Odhiambo Joseph in Kenya's port city of Mombasa, where the trial took place, says the courtroom was packed ahead of the sentencing. | The BBC's Odhiambo Joseph in Kenya's port city of Mombasa, where the trial took place, says the courtroom was packed ahead of the sentencing. |
| Silence fell as the accused walked into the dock, sat down with bowed heads and began praying in low tones. | Silence fell as the accused walked into the dock, sat down with bowed heads and began praying in low tones. |
| The prosecution had urged the court to hand down life sentences as provided for under Kenyan law. | The prosecution had urged the court to hand down life sentences as provided for under Kenyan law. |
| Immediately after the sentence was read out, the men clapped their hands and their faces brightened, our correspondent says. | Immediately after the sentence was read out, the men clapped their hands and their faces brightened, our correspondent says. |
| But their lawyer says he will appeal against the seven-year terms, arguing that some of those convicted are minors. | But their lawyer says he will appeal against the seven-year terms, arguing that some of those convicted are minors. |
| Ransom | Ransom |
| When the case opened in February, the suspects said they were fishermen and did not know why they had been "abducted" from their fishing boat. | When the case opened in February, the suspects said they were fishermen and did not know why they had been "abducted" from their fishing boat. |
| But Indian sailors identified the men, who were caught by the US Navy in international waters, and said they had been tortured by them. | But Indian sailors identified the men, who were caught by the US Navy in international waters, and said they had been tortured by them. |
| The pirates had demanded a ransom of $50,000 for their release. | The pirates had demanded a ransom of $50,000 for their release. |
| The rescued Indian vessel was brought to Mombasa because it was the nearest port. | The rescued Indian vessel was brought to Mombasa because it was the nearest port. |
| Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has not had a functioning national government since 1991. | Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |
| The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has consolidated its control over much of southern Somalia after seizing the capital, Mogadishu. | The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has consolidated its control over much of southern Somalia after seizing the capital, Mogadishu. |
| The UIC was set up by businessmen who wanted to impose law and order, and their gunmen have become Somalia's strongest fighting force | The UIC was set up by businessmen who wanted to impose law and order, and their gunmen have become Somalia's strongest fighting force |
| The decline in piracy has also been attributed to foreign navy patrols. | The decline in piracy has also been attributed to foreign navy patrols. |