KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian prosecutors have offered seven suspected Somali pirates charged with offences that carry the death penalty the chance to admit lesser crimes and escape execution, their lawyer said yesterday.
Malaysia became the first nation in Asia last year to lay charges against Somali pirate suspects, as part of growing legal moves around the world to counter the piracy crisis off the lawless east African country.
All seven were originally charged with firing at the Malaysian armed forces while committing a robbery, in January last year. The suspects have now been offered the chance to admit a lesser charge of using a weapon with the intention of preventing their arrest, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail, according to lawyer for two of the accused Saranjeet Kaur Sidhu.
The long-delayed trial, held up in order to find lawyers and an interpreter for the Somalis, has now been adjourned until October 8 to allow the defendants to decide whether to accept the plea bargain, Saranjeet said.
AFP
