The court in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has handed sentences for piracy ranging up to seven years imprisonment to five Somali men.

They have been found guilty of attacking other boats off the Somali coast in rubber dinghies equipped with fuel, ladders and fire arms.The Public Prosecutor’s Office was demanding ten years against the alleged leader. Eight years was demanded against three others and seven against one other man. The five men have been detained in custody in the Netherlands since November 2010.

More professional, more violent
Two of the pirates, who were sentenced to six and seven years respectively, were also involved in hijacking the South African yacht Choizil in 2010, according to the judges. Two persons on board were kidnapped and taken to Somalia. They haven’t been seen since. The court holds the view that pirates are becoming increasingly more professional and violent, because that has proven to be very profitable for them.