Yemeni court probes 22 pirates over piracy charges

Al-Mina primary court in Aden city began on Wednesday started trailing 22 Somali pirates on charge of involving in piracy acts against ships crossing the Gulf of Aden's international waters.

During the first trial session, headed by Judge Mohammed Hamoud al-Abyadh, prosecutors charged 11 Somalis with hijacking ships and other 12 of attempting  to hijack other vessels .

As the suspects could not speak Arabic and consequently could not follow up or understand the procedures the court ordered the prosecution to provide a translator and decided to adjourn the hearing till July 15.  In response to the defendants lawyer request the judge ordered to give a copy of the case file and giving him a chance to study the case indictments till the coming session on July 15.

11 of the suspected pirates  were captured by the Yemeni marine and coast guards forces  when these forces interfered to free four Yemeni ships and a Yemeni tanker that were hijacked by the suspects last May. Four Somali pirates and two crewmen were killed and several others wounded during the operation of freeing the vessels.

The rest suspects were captured by the international forces in the Gulf of Aden and handed over to the Yemeni coast guards last March.

 

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