Somali Pirates Remanded For Seven Days
2011-01-31
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- Police have obtained an order to
remand the seven Somali pirates detained by the Malaysian Armed Forces
while attempting to rob a Malaysian ship in the Gulf of Aden on Jan 20
for seven days from Monday.The remand order was issued by Magistrate Mohammad Noor Firdaus Rosli about 4pm at the Bukit Jalil police temporary detention centre here.
After the order was obtained, the seven pirates, all clad in the orange police lock-up uniform and in hand-cuffs, were seen boarding a police bus, and accompanied by several police vehicles, left the centre, believed to Bukit Aman.
The pirates, who were armed with AK-47 assault rifles and pistols, were detained by Malaysian naval commandos when they attempted to rob the Malaysian ship, MT Bunga Laurel, about 333 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman.
They arrived at Port Klang's Liquid Bulk Terminal at 9.15am Monday and were taken to Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for a medical check-up, before being sent to the detention centre at Bukit Jalil.
Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said police would open an investigation paper on the case and would question all the detainees and the Malaysian armed forces members involved in the rescue mission.
"This is a normal procedure in any investigations. We will record their statements to facilitate our investigation," he told reporters after opening the Kuala Lumpur police contingent media centre here Monday.
The rescue mission, codenamed "Operasi Fajar" was carried out together with the Royal Malaysian Navy's auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas 5.
The pirates were overpowered by the Malaysian naval commandos after a gun battle that left three of the pirates injured.
None of the commandos were injured in the operation.
-- BERNAMA