Wednesday, October 06, 2010
By Rosina John
A Somali national who was captured last Sunday following a foiled attack on a ship by pirates near Mtwara, Mr Abdi Shungulu, 39, was yesterday charged with two counts of conspiracy and piracy.
Mr Shungulu who was captured after a group of people believed to be Somali pirates, attacked an oil exploration ship in Mtwara, was not allowed to enter any plea when he appeared before resident magistrate Stewart Sanga.
The case will be heard by the High Court after completion of the investigation because the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court do not have the jurisdiction to hear piracy cases.
State Attorney Monica Mbogo, charged in court that between September 1 and 25, Mr Shungulu allegedly conspired with other people who are still at large, to attack the oil exploration vessel 5 miles off the Mtwara coastline in southern Tanzania.
The offence allegedly was committed at Kayan and Handel in Somalia and on Tanzania waters, respectively.
Ms Mbogo further charged that in the second count, the accused being a crew in unnamed vessel, attempted to attack the oil exploration vessel owned by Ophir Company.
He is alleged to have committed the offence on September 26, this year, north east of Dar es Salaam in Indian Ocean within the Tanzania waters contrary to Section 380(1)and 66(1)(a)(1) of the Penal Code.
This is the first time a case relating to piracy has landed in Tanzania courts since the law was reviewed to allow the prosecution of suspects caught in the East African waters.
And the arrest of Mr Shungulu came after the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) naval repulsed three attacks in recent days, off the Mtwara coastline.
He was arrested after the group of people tried to hijack the oil exploration ship which had TPDF personnel on board.
“They (pirates) fired at the ship not knowing that there were solders in it, and the troops returned the fire, overpowering the attackers. The pirates sped off after realizing that they were no match to the well trained army personnel,” TPDF’s director of information and public relation, Lt. Colonel Kapambala Mgawe told the Citizen recently.
The arraignment of the suspected pirate comes at a time when TPDF has announced plans to purchase a modern naval ship that will be used to patrol the country’s economic zone within the Indian Ocean.
Source: The Citizen