14 Indonesians jailed for hijacking

14 Indonesians jailed for hijacking

BOMBAY: An Indian court sentenced 14 Indonesians to seven years in prison on Tuesday for the 1999 hijacking of a Japanese freighter hauling millions of dollars in aluminum.

The pirates, armed with guns and knives, overpowered the Alondra Rainbow's crew on Oct. 22, 1999, after the vessel left Indonesia destined for Japan's port of Miike.

The ship carried 7,000 metric tons of aluminum ingots valued at 20 million dollars.

The hijackers allegedly cast the crew members -- two Japanese and 15 Filipinos -- adrift on a raft with enough food to survive. They were rescued more than a week later by Thai fishermen.

The gang painted a new name on the vessel and redirected it westward but, alerted by Japanese authorities, the Indian navy and coast guard opened fire and took the pirates into custody in the Arabian Sea near the beach state of Goa.

Indian naval authorities said the pirates had opened fire on them when they asked them to surrender.

"The accused have been found guilty under 11 charges including dacoity (banditry), robbery and even attempt to murder," Bombay Judge R.R. Vachha said.

The pirates will serve four more years in jail as they have already spent three years behind bars pending trial.

A 15th Indonesian was arrested with the other pirates in 1999 but died in custody of natural causes, officials said. --AFP