Pirates face death penalty in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — A Malaysian court on Friday charged seven suspected Somali pirates for firing at Malaysian forces during a Gulf of Aden raid to free a hijacked tanker, under laws that carry the death penalty.

Malaysia became the first nation in Asia to lay charges against suspected Somali pirates, as part of growing legal moves around the world to deal with the piracy crisis off lawless Somalia, which has surged in recent years.

Looking calm, the young men dressed in orange jump suits with their hands cuffed behind their backs were brought under heavy security into a packed courtroom.

They were charged with firing at members of the Malaysian armed forces while committing a robbery, with the intention to cause death or injury, in the January 20 raid. They did not enter a plea.

The seven have been held on remand in Malaysia since January 31, when they arrived on board the tanker MT Bunga Laurel, which was seized by pirates along with its crew of 23 on January 20.

On the historic decision to charge the pirates, prosecutor Mohamad Abazafree Mohamad Abbas said Malaysia had the jurisdiction to put the pirates on trial since their alleged actions had threatened the security of Malaysians.