An Indian court sentenced 44 Somali citizens to life imprisonment for maritime piracy following the seizure of two vessels off the coast of Somalia.
Hijacking of vessels and detention of pirates
The pirates hijacked a cargo ship and a fishing vessel in two separate incidents, taking the crew members hostage. The Indian Navy rescued the sailors and detained the attackers in 2024.
All 44 Somali citizens pleaded guilty during the trial, according to verdicts in two cases handed down by a special court in Mumbai on Monday, July 20.
Judge SB Daij stated that “An act of piracy on the high seas by hijacking a vessel and holding crew members hostage for ransom, with attempts to kill them and use them as human shields, is an extremely serious crime that cannot be treated leniently.”
Source: Channel NewsAsia
