Alleged pirate avoids sentence after exchange of fire with Danish soldiers
A presumed Nigerian pirate has partaken in risking the lives of Danish soldiers during an exchange of fire, rules the City Court of Copenhagen, which, however, has chosen to drop charges, meaning the 40-year-old, one-legged man will avoid punishment.
Prosecutors had demanded a prison sentence of 12-15 months as well as expulsion from Denmark for 12 years.
The Nigerian man has been in custody for a year – first at the Danish military frigate Esbern Snare in the Gulf of Guinea and since in Denmark. Despite Monday’s verdict, he will remain in prison.
The judge presiding over the case has decided to prolong the imprisonment until Dec. 20 due to a potential appeal case and the fact that the alleged pirate is foreign.
He was detained in November 2021 after a group of presumed pirates had been in combat with Danish military forces off the Nigerian coast.
In contrast to three other survivors, the 40-year-old was brought to Denmark, as he was injured and had his leg amputated. Therefore, it was not justifiable to release him at sea together with the others.
”It’s beyond any doubt that there has been differential treatment in this case,” said defense attorney Jesper Storm Thygesen in court on Friday.
He called for an acquittal of the one-legged man or alternatively that charges be dropped, which the court ultimately did.
According to the prosecution, the 40-year-old man did not fire any shots, but did partake in risking the lives of Danish soldiers.
It was November 24, 2021, when Esbern Snare’s helicopter sought to stop the group of presumed pirates.
The aircraft fired off warning shots, which were returned by fire from the vessel. This happened over two rounds, first at a distance of 225 meters, then at 217 meters.
Later, the Danish Frogman Corps were called upon – but the case surrounding the 40-year-old man only pertains to the shots fired against the helicopter.
Four alleged pirates were shot and killed, while one fell over board and is assumed dead. Four others survived.
The presumed pirate who had been in Danish custody is taking some time to consider whether he wants to appeal the ruling to the High Court of Denmark, Storm Thygesen informs on his behalf. The man has two weeks to appeal; the same amount of time is allotted for the prosecution.
English edit: Kristoffer Grønbæk & Daniel Pedersen
