Anthony Kitimo
9 November 2009
Nairobi — Seven suspected Somali pirates who attacked a French fishing vessel two weeks ago were on Monday handed over to Kenyan police by a German army.
The seven allegedly attacked Mv Frigate Karlshure on 27 October this year at the Gulf of Eden before they were arrested.
The German vessel carrying the seven docked at the Mombasa Port with the pirates at berth number 12 before the suspects were taken to the Port's police custody.
Port police boss Ayubu Gitonga said the suspects were arrested by German police in conjunction with Spanish and French marine police. Mr Gitonga said the forces used helicopters to arrest the suspects.
"The police had to shoot several times in the vessel to scare the pirates before arresting them," said Mr Gitonga.
Speaking to journalists shortly after receiving the suspects, the officer said the arms the suspects had were thrown into the ocean to conceal the evidence.
"Police managed to recover two speed boats which were being used by the suspects and several equipment which will be used as evidence in the court," said the police boss adding that the equipment they recovered are not used for fishing.
Members of the press were barred from taking photos of the suspects because the police said some of them were under age but one of the translators confirmed they are all over 18 years.
Yesterday's arrival of the seven suspects brings the number of suspects being tried at the Mombasa Law courts to 109 and only 10 have been charged since the government of Kenya started trials of the suspect in the country.
Those serving their sentences have been posted to different prisons in the country.
Police said the seven will be arraigned in court today.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
