Dutch court concicts 5 Somalis of piracy, sentences them to 5 years in prison each

Dutch court convicts 5 Somalis in piracy trial

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — A Dutch court has convicted five Somalis of piracy and sentenced them to five years each in prison in the first piracy case to come to trial in Europe.

The five were convicted of attacking a freight ship in the Gulf of Aden in January 2009.

Prosecutors asked for a seven-year sentence, but the judge said he took into account the difficult conditions in Somalia that led the men to piracy.

“It is a lucky coincidence that nobody was killed or wounded” in the attack, said judge Klein Wolterink.

Other Somali piracy suspects are being held in France, Spain, Germany and the U.S.

Kenya has convicted 18 pirates since 2007. More than 100 await trial there.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — A Dutch court is to issue its verdict in the piracy case of five Somalis accused of attacking a freight ship in the Gulf of Aden, the first such case in a European court.

Prosecutors have asked for a seven-year sentence for the men, who allegedly tried to hijack an Antilles-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia in January 2009.

They deny wrongdoing, saying they were trying to ask the crew for food and fuel because their skiff’s engine had been malfunctioning.

The verdict is due Thursday.

The suspects were arrested by an international armada shepherding commercial ships through the pirate-infested waters near Somalia.

Other Somali piracy suspects are being held in France, Spain, Germany and the U.S.

Kenya has convicted 18 pirates since 2007. More than 100 await trial there.