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Court tells France to pay damages to Somali pirates | Court tells France to pay damages to Somali pirates |
(4 months later) | |
The European Court of Human Rights says France violated the rights of Somali pirates who had attacked French ships and has ordered compensation for them over judicial delays. | The European Court of Human Rights says France violated the rights of Somali pirates who had attacked French ships and has ordered compensation for them over judicial delays. |
The nine Somali pirates should get thousands of euros because they were not immediately brought before a French judge, the court ruled. | The nine Somali pirates should get thousands of euros because they were not immediately brought before a French judge, the court ruled. |
One is to get 9,000 euros (£7,000) and the others sums of up to 7,000 euros. | One is to get 9,000 euros (£7,000) and the others sums of up to 7,000 euros. |
The judges faulted France for keeping them in custody for an extra 48 hours. | The judges faulted France for keeping them in custody for an extra 48 hours. |
The pirates had held French citizens hostage after seizing a French-flagged cruise ship and a French yacht in 2008. | The pirates had held French citizens hostage after seizing a French-flagged cruise ship and a French yacht in 2008. |
The French military captured the pirates on the Somali coast in two operations, after the hostages had been released for ransoms of $2.1m (£1.3m) and $2m. | The French military captured the pirates on the Somali coast in two operations, after the hostages had been released for ransoms of $2.1m (£1.3m) and $2m. |
Indian Ocean shipping has been plagued by pirate gangs operating off Somalia in recent years, but international naval action in the region has sharply reduced the attacks. | Indian Ocean shipping has been plagued by pirate gangs operating off Somalia in recent years, but international naval action in the region has sharply reduced the attacks. |
Before transferring the pirates to France, the authorities held one group for four days and the others for six days and 16 hours. | Before transferring the pirates to France, the authorities held one group for four days and the others for six days and 16 hours. |
But the extra 48 hours of custody on French soil violated the pirates' right to liberty and security under the European Convention on Human Rights, the court ruled. | But the extra 48 hours of custody on French soil violated the pirates' right to liberty and security under the European Convention on Human Rights, the court ruled. |
The convention's Article 5.3 "was not designed to give the authorities the opportunity to intensify their investigations for the purpose of bringing formal charges against the suspects", a court statement said. | The convention's Article 5.3 "was not designed to give the authorities the opportunity to intensify their investigations for the purpose of bringing formal charges against the suspects", a court statement said. |
The judges argued that the time between their arrest and transfer to France was already enough for France to draw up charges, instead of delaying for another 48 hours. | The judges argued that the time between their arrest and transfer to France was already enough for France to draw up charges, instead of delaying for another 48 hours. |
Court judgements are binding on signatories to the convention. | Court judgements are binding on signatories to the convention. |
The judges did not challenge France's right to arrest the pirates inside Somali territory, under UN anti-piracy rules. | The judges did not challenge France's right to arrest the pirates inside Somali territory, under UN anti-piracy rules. |