Legal Corner
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Legal View
The convictions of five Somali pirates sentenced to life in prison should be upheld because the definition of piracy under international law includes failed attempts, according to federal prosecutors. The […]
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Compensation Claim
It seems that there is no end to the sheer audacity of Somali pirates. A group currently holding South Korean seafarers hostage are demanding the release of pirates held by […]
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Sentence Passed
A court in the Seychelles sentenced five Somali pirates to 18 years in prison for attacking French ships in the Indian Ocean. A Supreme Court judge found the men guilty […]
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Up Pompei
The first Somali to be tried for piracy in Belgium has denied all involvement in the 2009 hijacking of a Belgian frigate eventually released after payment of ransom. “I was […]
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On Trial
S. Korea’s first trial of foreign pirates to begin Monday. Four of the five Somali pirates arrested on charges of hijacking a South Korean freighter and shooting its captain will […]
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Liability Issues
While the use of arms on ships has seen some begrudging acceptance, there is still the small matter of legality to consider. The biggest underlying concern for owners and masters […]
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Ransoms Legal
Given the shipping industry’s reliance on ransoms to get ships freed from pirates, there is some relief that a recent court decision has reaffirmed that ransom payments are legal. According […]
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Long Sentence
A Spanish court has sentenced two Somali pirates to 439 years in jail each for their role in the hijacking of a tuna fishing boat. The two men have been […]
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Prison Beckons
A Yemeni Court has passed down a ten-year prison sentence for two Somalis convicted of piracy crimes in the Yemeni territorial waters. During the hearing chaired by Judge Abdu al-Awadhi, […]
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Not Guilty Plea
A Somali man the U.S. believes to be the highest-ranking pirate it has ever captured pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday to piracy, kidnapping and weapons charges. The court […]
