AG to decide on Somali pirate issue after studying police investigation papers

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KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he will decide on the next course of action on seven pirates detained by the Malaysian Armed Forces in the Gulf of Aden on Jan 20 after being briefed his officers on the initial investigation papers which were handed over to them by the police yesterday.

Abdul Gani said only after looking into the papers could he decide whether to charge all of them or further investigation was warranted.

“At this momement I just can confirm that investigation papers have been received by my officers and we need to study them,” stressed Abdul Gani when met at the Jalan Duta Court Complex here.

On Jan 31, police obtained an order to remand the seven seven days and the order was extended to six more days from Feb 6.

Previously, Abdul Gani was quoted saying that the cases of the Somalis would be treated like any other criminal case, whereby the due process had to be followed.

On Jan 20, Malaysian naval commandos rescued the Malaysian ship MT Bunga Laurel from the clutches of Somali pirates armed with AK-47 assault rifles and pistols about 333 nautical miles (555km) east of Oman.

The rescue mission, codenamed ‘Operasi Fajar’, was carried out by the Royal Malaysian Navy’s auxiliary ship, Bunga Mas 5.

The commandos overpowered the pirates after a gun battle that left three of the pirates injured.

None of the commandos were injured in the operation. — Bernama