Somali pirates get 20 years in prison

A Court in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa has found eight Somali suspects guilty of piracy and sentenced them to 20 years in prison.

The Eight suspects were arrested by the British navy in 2008 after allegedly attacking the Danish vessel MV Powerful. They have been on trial for two years after they were handed to Kenyan authorities.

While giving out her judgment, Mombasa's Senior Principal Magistrate Lillian Mutende says the offence of piracy is a serious one and can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Emboldened by rising ransom payments, Somali sea gangs have increased attacks in recent months making tens of millions of dollars by capturing vessels in the Indian Ocean and the busy Gulf of Aden shipping lanes connecting Europe and Asia.

A Court in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa has found eight Somali suspects guilty of piracy and sentenced them to 20 years in prison. (CCTV.com)