Monday, April 13, 2009
Three other pirates where shot and killed Sunday by US Navy snipers who freed Phillips after five days in captivity aboard a lifeboat taken from his cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama.
"The Justice Department continues to review the evidence and other issues to determine whether to seek prosecution in the United States," said spokesman Dean Boyd.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the four hostage-takers were heavily armed but inexperienced youths, aged 17 to 19. The pirate in custody surrendered before the deadly rescue.
If the suspect is less than 18 years old, he could be tried as a minor and face more lenient terms.
Kidnapping carries a maximum penalty of life in prison for adults, the Justice Department said.
If the suspected pirate is not transferred to the United States, he could be turned over to Kenya for trial, following similar procedures to those applied to seven other alleged Somali pirates captured in an attack on a German oil tanker March 29.
The pirates were transferred under an agreement between Kenya and the European Union on the prosecution of Somalis suspected of piracy. Washington and Nairobi have a similar agreement.
Source: AFP, April 13, 2009