EU Naval Force Welcomes Third Successful Conviction in 2016 of Armed Pirates who Terrorised Seafarer

The European Union’s counter-piracy EU Naval Force has welcomed the conviction earlier today of twelve men after they were found guilty by the Mauritian Court of attempting to carry out an act of piracy against a merchant ship, MSC Jasmine, on 5 January 2013.

The successful conviction came after prosecution lawyers in the Republic of Mauritius challenged an earlier court ruling in November 2014 that had found the men not guilty of attacking the Cypriot container ship as it transited south in the Indian Ocean.

This was the first piracy trial held by the Mauritian Court after a transfer agreement, that enables those suspected of committing an act of piracy off the coast of Somalia to be transferred to the island nation for prosecution, was signed between the European Union and the Mauritian Government in July 2011.

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Image: Suspected pirates being transferred from FS Surcouf to Mauritius Authorities - January 2013

EU NAVFOR