Nairobi: Cases on piracy at a Mombasa court failed to proceed on Tuesday after the prosecution asked to be allowed to first seek a clarification from the Attorney General on whether he gave authority for the cases to be prosecuted.
Mombasa chief magistrate Rosemelle Mutoka was scheduled to hear two matters in which suspected Somali pirates are alleged to have committed an act of piracy against MV Antonis and MV Spessart.
Lawyer Donald Muyundo for seven persons alleged to have committed an act of piracy against MV Antonis, said the prosecution ought to have written confirmation from the AG on how best the matter could proceed. This followed media reports attributed to the AG on the same matter.
State Counsel Mr Vincent Monda said he will inform the court on the AG sentiments when the matters comes up for mention.
A week ago, Mr Amos Wako was quoted in the media denying involvement in the drafting of the agreements that have made the country a “dumping ground for pirates.â€
Mr Wako is said to have made the remarks at a meeting with Parliament’s committee on Defence and Foreign Relations.
The AG is quoted to have said that agreements were acceded to by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without his knowledge.
The two cases will now be mentioned on April 19 and 20 respectively.
Three weeks ago, eight suspected Somali pirates were jailed for 20 years each by senior principal magistrate Lillian Mutende after the court found them guilty of attempting to hijack a ship.
In 2006, 10 pirates were each sentenced to seven years imprisonment and their appeal to quash the sentence was dismissed by Justice Festus Azangalala last year.
Justice Azangalala stayed the conviction handed to the pirates by principal magistrate Beatrice Jaden.
Currently there are almost 100 suspected Somali pirates who are being tried at the Mombasa law courts.
Source: The Daily Nation A kenyan Newspaper.
