The 12 pirates tried in Mauritius acquitted
(BRUSSELS2) Definitely Mauritius is not the paradise sought by Europeans for prosecutions against pirates. After the cancellation of the agreement signed by the EU with Mauritius by the Court of Justice (1), it is now the "intermediate court" of Mauritius which acquitted the twelve Somali pirates, this Thursday (6 November), judged on the island.
The "pirates", aged between 20 and 45, were suspected of having attacked the MSC Jasmine off Somali waters. According to our Mauritian colleague Express, magistrate Wendy Rangan said thatthere was not enough evidence against them ". They had not been found on the attacked ship but offshore. But no weapon had been found on their boat. And the suspects consider themselves "simple fishermen" although very little fishing equipment was found on board. Questions have also raised as to the legality of the detention of the pirates after their arrest ».
Indeed, nearly 20 days elapsed between their arrest and their transfer to Mauritius. And the conditions of their arrest are, according to our "piracy" database rather 'country'... These pirates had, in fact, been stopped by an American frigate at the beginning of January 2013 but officially arrested by the French soldiers of the Surcouf (2), which took part in the EUNAVFOR Atalanta operation. A preferred solution in situ to promote the pursuit of pirates (4). The Europeans having a legal framework that the Americans did not have. They were then transferred to a plane chartered by Atalanta (3).
The various elements of facts and evidence had been transmitted by French and European officers to the Mauritian authorities. A Somali interpreter having arrived from the Seychelles to assist and translate the defendants during the trial. The testimonies of the European and American soldiers are then collected by video-conference.
The prosecution should, however, appeal this judgment ". And the Somalis remain, for the moment, in detention in Melrose prison (renovated with European funds).
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
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