Russian court jails Arctic Sea hijackers

A Russian court yesterday sentenced six people to prison for their role in a pirate attack on the Maltese-flagged Arctic Sea in July 2009. The sentences range from seven to twelve years in prison.

The Russian-crewed Arctic Sea disappeared in the English Channel on July 24, 2009, Ria Novosti reports, whilst on its way from Finland to Algeria with US$2 million worth of timber on board. The Russian Navy found the vessel in the Cape Verde islands off West Africa on August 17 and arrested eight people. Investigators said the ship had been seized by masked pirates near the coast of Sweden. Only the listed cargo of timber was found on board when the vessel was seized.

Sentence on Arctic Sea case to be delivered late in March

Arkhangelsk Regional Court will deliver sentence on the case of captured cargo ship Arctic Sea in March 22-23, reported RIA Novosti referring to the court's press secretary Ksenia Solovyova. 

Criminal trial against six persons charged of hijacking of cargo vessel Arctic Sea in July 2009 with Arkhangelsk crewmen on board has being held since Dec 2010. Complainants are 15 crewmembers, shipowning company Arctic Sea Ltd, and director ofSolchart-Arkhangelsk who was directly demanded to pay a EUR 1.5 mln ransom.