Togo: Nine pirates brought to justice, one still at large

Security
Wednesday, 07 July 2021 13:37
Togo: Nine pirates brought to justice, one still at large

(Togo First) - Lomé’s Court of Appeal sanctioned, last Monday, nine pirates with heavy jail sentences and fines. The culprits were brought to justice for trying to hijack - on the night of May 11-12, 2019 - the G-Dona 1 tanker, a Togo-flagged vessel owned by a Beninese shipowner.

The crew’s leader - a Nigerian named Peter Paul - received a 15- year sentence, a five-year entry ban in Togo, and a CFA 50 million fine. 

Six other members who took part in the attempted hijacking were each sentenced to 12 years in jail. In addition, the non-Togolese among them received a five-year entry ban in the country while the Togolese were deprived of their civil rights. The six of them also have to pay a CFA 25 million fine, each, for damages caused. 

One of the pirates, a Ghanaian, still at large, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison and a CFA 50 million fine. The last of the nine pirates, a Togolese, was acquitted.  

As this trial affirms, Togo remains committed to curbing maritime insecurity - an objective which had led its government to hold, in October 2016, an African summit on maritime security, safety, and development.

Esaïe Edoh

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