Mumbai Sessions Court Sentences 44 Somalian Pirates To Life In First Conviction Under Maritime Anti-Piracy

Mumbai sessions court sentenced 44 Somalian pirates to life imprisonment under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022.

This is the first conviction under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, which came into force in 2022.

The pirates were caught by the Indian Navy in March 2024 while hijacking two vessels: MV Ex-Ruen and FV Al-Kambar 786.

Additional Sessions Judge S. B. Dige called the piracy an act of terrorism and accepted the pirates' guilty plea.

The court noted the pirates faced hardship in prison due to language, culture, and lack of family support, but held their plea was voluntary.