Pirate suspects coming to the U.S. for trial

At least five pirate suspects---and as many as 20—will be brought to the U.S. to face trial later this year.

The Associated Press reports that the reason for the discrepancy in the number of suspects is because it is unknown whether the remaining number being held will follow suit. The Navy currently holds 20 pirate suspects aboard ships off the coast of Somalia. It is clear that the first five men are scheduled to arrive in America by the end of this week, according to an unnamed federal law enforcement official.

Though the court and its location where the suspects will face charges has not yet been disclosed, a Somali teenager accused of involvement in the hijacking of two vessels in the Indian Ocean was brought to U.S. District Court in Manhattan last year. Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse, the suspect, pleaded not guilty to piracy and awaits trial.

Current U.S. policy calls for pirate suspects captured by the Navy while attacking an American ship to be brought to the U.S. for trial, while pirates attacking a ship from another country are supposed to be tried in that country. Until just this month, Kenya had hosted pirate trials but that nation halted taking in pirate suspects, claiming their courts were under stress.

Source:  Associated Press