[Iran Press TV] A court in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa has released 17 suspected Somali pirates captured by the naval forces in the dangerous waters.The men were jugged on May 31, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden following a failed attack on an Egyptian tanker, MV Amira. The vessel was attacked in the waters off Yemen.
The court says the US and South Korean navies that jugged the alleged pirates could not provide solid evidence for a conviction, a Press TV correspondent reported.
"The prosecution has not proved its case against the accused persons beyond reasonable doubt as required by law," Magistrate Michael Kizito said on Friday.
"Consequently, I find that the accused persons are not guilty of the offence which they were charged with and acquit them," he added.
The landmark decision to free the suspects is the first such ruling in similar cases since the East African country signed a piracy deal with Western powers to try suspected pirates from neighboring Somalia.
Yeah, looks like that's gonna work out real well...
Nairobi did not renew the agreement after its expiration in September, making Seychelles the sole costal African country ready to try suspects handed over by foreign navies.
This is while more than a hundred suspected Somali pirates are currently awaiting trial in Kenyan jails.
Pirates from lawless Somalia have terrorized the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, preying on trade ships passing through the waters.
The European Union says the sea bandidos are currently holding some 19 vessel and at least 400 crewmembers hostage.