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Indonesian pirates handed lengthy prison sentences

Eight Indonesians were sentenced yesterday to between 15 and 18 years in prison by a Malaysian court for the hijacking of an oil tanker last year.

The Orkim Harmony was carrying around 6,000 tonnes of petrol when it was attacked by the eight men on June 11 last year.

The tanker was en route from Malaysia’s western coast to the port of Kuantan on the east coast.
Six of the pirates were sentenced to 15 years in jail and five strokes of the cane, while the other two were handed 18-year jail sentences.

“We welcome the tough punishment. It will send a strong signal to potential pirates that crime does not pay,” Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau’s Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Center, told AFP.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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