14 Indonesians jailed for hijacking<\/p>\n
BOMBAY: An Indian court sentenced 14 Indonesians to seven
\nyears in prison on Tuesday for the 1999 hijacking of a Japanese
\nfreighter hauling millions of dollars in aluminum.<\/p>\n
The pirates, armed with guns and knives, overpowered the
\nAlondra Rainbow's crew on Oct. 22, 1999, after the vessel left
\nIndonesia destined for Japan's port of Miike.<\/p>\n
The ship carried 7,000 metric tons of aluminum ingots valued
\nat 20 million dollars.<\/p>\n
The hijackers allegedly cast the crew members -- two Japanese
\nand 15 Filipinos -- adrift on a raft with enough food to survive.
\nThey were rescued more than a week later by Thai fishermen.<\/p>\n
The gang painted a new name on the vessel and redirected it
\nwestward but, alerted by Japanese authorities, the Indian navy
\nand coast guard opened fire and took the pirates into custody in
\nthe Arabian Sea near the beach state of Goa.<\/p>\n
Indian naval authorities said the pirates had opened fire on
\nthem when they asked them to surrender.<\/p>\n
"The accused have been found guilty under 11 charges including
\ndacoity (banditry), robbery and even attempt to murder," Bombay
\nJudge R.R. Vachha said.<\/p>\n
The pirates will serve four more years in jail as they have
\nalready spent three years behind bars pending trial.<\/p>\n
A 15th Indonesian was arrested with the other pirates in 1999
\nbut died in custody of natural causes, officials said. --AFP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/14-indonesians-jailed-for-hijacking-1447893297",
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