ID :
184932
Fri, 05/27/2011 - 16:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/184932
The shortlink copeid
Leader of Somali pirates sentenced to life for maritime robbery, attempted murder
(ATTN: UPDATES with more information in paras 5-7)
BUSAN, May 27 (Yonhap) -- The leader of a group of Somali pirates on Friday was sentenced to life in prison with three other pirates sentenced to prison terms of 13 to 15 years on charges of hijacking a South Korean freighter in January this year and shooting the ship's captain.
The Busan District Court convicted Mahomed Arai, 21, of shooting Seok Hae-kyun, captain of the South Korean-owned ship, the Samho Jewelry, and seven other charges including attempted murder and maritime robbery, sentencing him to life in prison.
Aul Brallat was handed a 15-year prison term, and Abdikhad Iman Ali and Abdullah Ali were each sentenced to 13 years in prison. They were cleared of plotting to kill the captain with Arai but convicted of attempting to kill crew members by using them as human shields.
The prosecution sought the death penalty for Arai and life in prison for three others.
"The charge against Arai for his attempt to murder captain Seok was substantiated as a crew of the ship heard Arai look for the captain by yelling out "captain, captain" in the navigation room and then rounds of gun shots fired in the room," the court said.
"But the evidence provided by the prosecution was not enough to prove the other three had conspired to kill captain Seok," it added.
The four convicted on Friday stood trial by a jury while the remaining suspect refused to have a hury hear his case and is facing trial by the district court, which is set to render its verdict next week.
The Samho Jewelry was seized in the Arabian Sea by Somali pirates on Jan. 15 but was rescued during a raid by South Korean naval commandos six days later. A total of five pirates were captured alive and transfered to stand trial in South Korea.
brk@yna.co.kr
BUSAN, May 27 (Yonhap) -- The leader of a group of Somali pirates on Friday was sentenced to life in prison with three other pirates sentenced to prison terms of 13 to 15 years on charges of hijacking a South Korean freighter in January this year and shooting the ship's captain.
The Busan District Court convicted Mahomed Arai, 21, of shooting Seok Hae-kyun, captain of the South Korean-owned ship, the Samho Jewelry, and seven other charges including attempted murder and maritime robbery, sentencing him to life in prison.
Aul Brallat was handed a 15-year prison term, and Abdikhad Iman Ali and Abdullah Ali were each sentenced to 13 years in prison. They were cleared of plotting to kill the captain with Arai but convicted of attempting to kill crew members by using them as human shields.
The prosecution sought the death penalty for Arai and life in prison for three others.
"The charge against Arai for his attempt to murder captain Seok was substantiated as a crew of the ship heard Arai look for the captain by yelling out "captain, captain" in the navigation room and then rounds of gun shots fired in the room," the court said.
"But the evidence provided by the prosecution was not enough to prove the other three had conspired to kill captain Seok," it added.
The four convicted on Friday stood trial by a jury while the remaining suspect refused to have a hury hear his case and is facing trial by the district court, which is set to render its verdict next week.
The Samho Jewelry was seized in the Arabian Sea by Somali pirates on Jan. 15 but was rescued during a raid by South Korean naval commandos six days later. A total of five pirates were captured alive and transfered to stand trial in South Korea.
brk@yna.co.kr
