KENYA: U.S. navy hands over 17 suspected pirates to Kenyan authorities

Record ID: 361000

  • Title: KENYA: U.S. navy hands over 17 suspected pirates to Kenyan authorities
  • Date: 11th June 2009
  • Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (JUNE 10, 2009) (REUTERS) WIDE SHOT OF 'USS GETTYSBURG' SAILING TO KENYAN PORT OF MOMBASA VARIOUS OF U.S. FLAG FLYING ON 'USS GETTYSBURG' TUG BOAT PUSHING FRIGATE TO BERTH KENYA POLICE ARRIVING AT PORT VARIOUS OF U.S. MARINES ONBOARD SHIP VARIOUS OF KENYA PORT AUTHORITY STAFF PULLING ROPES U.S. MARINES ON A SPEED BOAT VARIOUS OF PIRATES DISEMBARKING
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Reuters ID: LVAE3YXNW4YP4H91682NTKRJ8LKD
  • Story Text: The U.S. navy handed over 17 suspected pirates to Kenyan police on Wednesday (June 10), taking the number of seaborne gunmen in jail in coastal towns in the east African country to 111.
    International navies patrolling the busy shipping lanes are reluctant to bring suspects to their own countries because they either lack the jurisdiction to do so or fear the Somalis may seek asylum.
    Somali gangs in small boats are challenging the world's military powers with ever more daring strikes along major trade routes, expanding their operations towards the coast of Kenya and the Seychelles islands.
    In a move to try and ease any backlogs in hearings, police said the 17 handed over to them would be charged in a Malindi court. Malindi is 120km away from Mombasa.
    On Monday (June 8), the Swedish Navy, flew in seven pirates through the Moi International Airport following rough weather conditions in Djibouti where they were arrested.
    Known as "Operation Atalanta", the EU's mission patrols the area with aircraft and vessels, but when they arrest anyone suspected to be a pirate, they are handed over to Kenyan authorities who then take them to court.
    Pirates from lawless Somalia, some of whom say they turned to hijacking and hostage-taking because overfishing has deprived them of their traditional livelihood, present a legal and diplomatic challenge as well as a military one.
    Kenya has agreed to deal with the detainees under accords with the European Union, Britain and the United States, but it has said it cannot try all pirates.
    Weapons seized during the capture of the suspects were also handed over to Kenyan security and will be used as evidence in court.
    "The suspects are 17 and they were arrested on May 13 2009. They had attacked a merchant ship 'MV Amira'. The merchant ship was sailing to Alexandria in Egypt when it was attacked by the small ship and a skiff. 'USS Gettysburg' came to its rescue and they managed to arrest the 17 suspects. We have them together with the weapons that they attacked the ship with," said Kenya Ports Police chief Ayub Gitonga said.
    Several pirates seized after hijacking French ships and taking hostages are facing trial in France but some have demanded they be sent back to Somalia, arguing their transfer to France was illegal.
    Somalia, where government troops are battling Islamist insurgents, has not had an effective administration since 1991 and is unable to tackle piracy, onshore or offshore.
    Naval forces from the United States, Europe and Asia have been deployed to protect merchant ships off the Horn of Africa after rampant piracy sent insurance costs soaring.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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