A Special Court in Mumbai has sentenced 44 Somali pirates to life imprisonment in two separate hijacking cases involving the Maltese ship MV Ruen and the Iranian fishing vessel Al-Kambar 786.
Thirty-five defendants were tried over the hijacking of MV Ruen, while nine others faced proceedings linked to Al-Kambar 786. Indian Armed Forces personnel arrested the accused during anti-piracy operations in 2024.
All defendants appeared before the court. On 6 July 2026, 34 of those involved in the MV Ruen case submitted a written plea admitting guilt.
The defendants said they had faced language, dietary and cultural difficulties during two years of judicial custody. They also referred to the absence of support and said the charges had been framed on 13 May 2026 following considerable delays.
According to their plea, the accused understood the charges and admitted guilt voluntarily, without coercion or pressure. They also acknowledged that the offences could result in the maximum available punishment.
The defendants asked the court for leniency, citing their families’ financial circumstances and Somalia’s relationship with India. They requested the minimum possible sentence and referred to possible diplomatic arrangements between the two countries.
The nine defendants in the Al-Kambar 786 case submitted a similar plea. They had also been arrested in 2024.
The proceedings followed submissions by Special Public Prosecutor Ranjit Sangle.
The accused faced charges under the Indian Penal Code, Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act, Passport Act and Foreigners Act.
The charges were explained in English to one defendant, Li Jama. He then explained them to the other accused so they could understand the allegations and the court proceedings.
