12 Somali pirates to be prosecuted

Kuala Lumpur (AP):

Malaysia and South Korea announced plans yesterday to prosecute 12 captured Somali pirates in what maritime officials praised as a move that might deter the hijacking of ships off East Africa.

Somali pirates apprehended by authorities are often not brought to justice, but merely released after being disarmed. In the past, the international community has often depended on countries like Kenya and the Seychelles to prosecute pirates, who took a record 1,016 hostages for ransom last year.

Naval commandos from Malaysia and South Korea staged separate raids last Friday on ships seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, respectively. The commandos overpowered a total of 12 pirates and rescued 44 crew members. Eight pirates were killed by the South Korean team.

Malaysia was transporting seven detainees to Kuala Lumpur and planned to hold them in police custody until investigations into the attack are completed.