VZCZCXRO5494
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHPL #0044 0481015
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 171015Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY PORT LOUIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4982
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 0008
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0011
RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT LOUIS 000044 
 
SIPDIS 
 
S/P FOR PHARRELL; L FOR JLANDSIDLE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPIR MARR PHSA EWWT PBTS SO SE
SUBJECT: SOMALI PIRATES AND PRISON PROBLEMS IN SEYCHELLES 
 
REF: A. PORT LOUIS 0006 
     ¶B. PORT LOUIS 00043 
 
Classified By: CDA BARRIE WALKLEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d) 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: There was a riot at the prison in Seychelles 
where eleven Somalis accused of piracy are detained.  The 
Somalis took no part in the riot and have, in fact, been 
model prisoners.  Their case goes to trial March 15.  They 
will be represented by a local prominent attorney.  A plea 
bargain is possible.  Currently, all eleven are pleading not 
guilty.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (C) In late January, there were reports that the eleven 
Somali pirates awaiting trial in a Seychelles prison were on 
a hunger strike.  These reports proved false, apparently 
generated by Benediste Hoareau, who was at the time 
Superintendent of Prisons and was trying to save his job. 
Hoareau was fired (accused of allowing prisoners nights out 
in return for bribes) and on January 28 the prisons portfolio 
was added to the other responsibilities of Joel Morgan, 
Minister of Environment, Natural Resources and Transport -- 
and the government's point man on piracy issues. 
 
¶3. (C) Morgan issued instructions to have the entire prison 
comprehensively searched, resulting in a haul of weapons and 
drugs.  The prisoners then rioted.  Military police quelled 
the disturbances and currently maintain a presence at the 
prison.  All is now quiet and under control.  A UNODC 
representative has visited the prison since the riot and has 
voiced no objections to the policies now in place. 
 
4.(U) Since their detention on December 6, the eleven Somali 
pirates have been model prisoners.  During the riot, for 
example, they isolated themselves from the other prisoners, 
locked themselves in their cells and wanted no part of the 
disturbances. 
 
¶5. (U) Their case is currently scheduled to go to trial on 
March 15, unless the defense attorney (a local prominent 
lawyer) asks for a delay.  The Seychelles Attorney General 
will personally prosecute the case.  UNODC is providing 3 
Somali interpreters for the trial.  The charges are: 
terrorism, belonging to a terrorist group, piracy, aiding and 
abetting a terrorist act, and conspiracy to commit an act of 
piracy/terrorism. 
 
¶6. (U) Four of the pirates are approximately 15 years old (a 
social worker visits them regularly).  They will be charged 
as adults because, although they are minors, they committed a 
crime with adults (Seychelles law thus allows them to be 
charged as adults). 
 
¶7. (C) At the trial, if they plead not guilty but are 
ultimately found guilty, the minimum sentence will be 30 
years.  If, however, they plead guilty, the sentence will be 
7 years, plus whatever the judge may decide to add.  If they 
agree to plea bargain on a single terrorism charge, the judge 
is willing to drop the piracy charge and sentence them to 7 
years.  The Attorney General has no objection to this deal, 
as he believes the case (which is based on English Common 
Law) will not set a precedent for future piracy cases in 
Seychelles (legislation is underway to amend the Seychelles 
Penal Code so that it specifically criminalizes piracy; that 
amendment will be the basis for any future piracy 
prosecutions.  See Ref B).  Currently, all eleven Somalis 
continue to plead not guilty. 
 
 
 
. 
WALKLEY