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THE
International Maritime Bureau has
made a public appeal to the
Indonesian government to prosecute
pirates who were seized earlier
this year, but who have yet to
face charges in court. The IMB,
which is part of the International
Chamber of Commerce, is concerned
that the pirates may be treated
leniently.
IMB
director, Capt P Mukudan, cited
the previous time pirates were
prosecuted by Indonesia, when the
gang leader was given a seven-year
prison sentence, later reduced to
four years.
“This,
said a bureau statement, was seen
by the shipping industry as an
“extremely low punishment”.
“If
the Indonesian police do not take
these recent cases through to
prosecution, all the efforts in
capturing the pirates would have
been futile,” said Capt Mukundan.
“But
if they do prosecute, it will not
only give a clear warning to
pirates that they will not be
tolerated, but it will also show
the international shipping
industry that efforts are being
made by Indonesia to ensure that
their waters are safe for ships
and seamen.”
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