Special court sentences 44 Somalian pirates to life imprisonment

A special court in Mumbai on Monday sentenced 44 Somalian nationals to life imprisonment in two different cases on charges of piracy and other offences.

The court also appreciated the bravery of Indian Navy in discharging legal and international duty in letter and spirit by taking all cost and risk. While imposing the maximum punishment of life imprisonment, Special Judge S B Dige noted that the offences committed by the accused persons were serious in nature. All the 44 accused, comprising 35 in one case and nine in the other, had pleaded guilty before the court and had urged for leniency.

The court said it was aware of the poor condition of the accused persons and the fact that they have voluntarily pleaded guilty. “But on the other hand, the act of piracy on high sea by hijacking a vessel and keeping crew members hostage for ransom by attempting to kill them and to keep them as human shield and not obeying the lawful directions of Indian Navy are very serious things which cannot be taken casually,” the court said.

The accused have been convicted under Indian Penal Code, Arms Act, Passport Act, Foreigners Act, Maritime Anti-Piracy Act and the Explosive Substances Act.

In the case in which nine persons were accused, as per the prosecution, Indian Naval Ship Trishul and Sumedha were deployed in the Gulf of Aden (east coast of Somalia) for an anti-piracy mission.

In March 2024, a hijacking alert was received from Iranian-flagged FV Al Kambar, leading to the arrest of nine Somalian nationals after INS Trishul and Sumedha responded.

The prosecution claimed the pirates abducted and kept the crew members of the Iranian ship hostage for about three days for ransom and threatened to kill them or hurt them through deadly weapons like AK-47 rifles, hand grenades, etc.

The accused also opened fire on the Indian warships and had, hence, committed terrorist acts, which deserve the harshest punishment, the prosecution had said.

The nine accused sought leniency on the ground that they were poor and uneducated Somalian citizens with small children back home.

They urged the court to consider the fact that they have voluntarily pleaded guilty. They also said there is cordial diplomatic relations between India with Somalia.

In the second case, INS Kolkata had, in December 2023, apprehended 35 accused, all Somalian nationals, who had abducted Merchant Vessel (MV) Ex-Ruen, a Malta-flagged bulk carrier.

These accused were also charged and convicted under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.