It is a coincidence: for two days in a row Somali pirates stood trial in a Dutch court in Rotterdam. In both cases, the suspects were arrested by the Dutch Navy. On April 2nd the small vessel Hr. Ms. Tromp persued nine Somali pirates on the coast of Somalia. They are suspected for seizing an Iranian ship and attempted murder on Dutch Marines. Their trial started with a pro forma session last Monday. On Tuesday, in the same court, five Somali pirates faced the judge for seizing the South African yacht Choizil. They were stopped on the coast near Tanzania by the Dutch vessel ‘Amsterdam’.

First case: probably not until 2012
The case that began Monday against the nine suspects could take a while: the court wants to see all the audiovisual material made during the arrest and the shootings between the Somalians and the Dutch navy. The application was submitted to the Ministry of Defence. The court also wants the crew of the seized Iranian ship to testify. According to Pelle Biesmeijer, spokesman for the Rotterdam Court, it may take until next year before the hearing starts.

Second case: suspects deny
Unlike the first case, the Tuesday case against five Somali pirates seems to proceed faster. “As it now appears, the prosecutor will recommend a sentence in the end July. The verdict is due august 13th.” says Wim de Bruin, spokesman for the Dutch prosecution.

Although the suspects deny, two of the five suspects admitted they were on their way to hijack a boat, before they were stopped. According to the Dutch navy, the Somali’s were in a small boat with 15 others, after they got off the seized yacht. Before the Marines reached them, the suspects might have thrown the weapons they carried overboard. The other fifteen occupants were released earlier due to lack of evidence.