Somali pirate jailed for 30 years

WASHINGTON – A Somali man who pleaded guilty to his role in an attack against the USS Ashland warship in April was sentenced …

WASHINGTON – A Somali man who pleaded guilty to his role in an attack against the USS Ashland warship in April was sentenced on Monday to 30 years in prison, the first sentencing in a US piracy case in more than 150 years.

Jama Idle Ibrahim (38), was one of six men brought to the US and charged with the April 10th attack on the warship in the Gulf of Aden. They mistook the ship for a merchant vessel.

In August, Ibrahim pleaded guilty to attacking to plunder a vessel, acts of violence against persons on a vessel, and use of a firearm.

Last week, a jury in Virginia convicted five Somalis on piracy and related charges for a separate April 1st attack on the USS Nicholas navy frigate. – (Reuters)