Jugement Somalien

8/10/2019 Jugement Somalien

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Police v Mohamed Ali Abdeoulkader and ors

2014 INT 311

IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF MAURITIUS

Cause No.850/2013

In the matter of: -

Polie

!

1. A"#eoul$a#e% Mo&a'e# Ali

2. Sai# Mo&a'e# Hassa(

3. A&'e# Mo&a'e# Is'ael

4. S&a)i Mo&a'e# Os'a(

5. Hassa( Sala# O'a%

6. Sai# O'a% Fa%a&

7. Mo&a'e# A"#ila&i A&'e#

8. Ali Hassa( Mo&a'e#

9. A"#i Mo&a'e# *i#i+e

10. A"#i A&'e# ,ussu)

11. A"#illa&i Mo&a'e# A&'e#

12. Ma&a# Mo&a'e# I"%a&i'

-UDMENT

1. The twelve accuse are char!e w"th the offence of #$ct of %"rac& on '"!h (eas) "n

*reach of sect"ons 3+1,+a, 3+3, an 7 of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct 2011. It

"s averre that on or a*out 5 anuar& 2013 the twelve accuse " on the high seas,

around 240 Nautical Miles off the Somali Coastwilfully and unlawfully commit an

act of piracy, to wit an illegal act of violence directed against the MSC asmine, a

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!anama flag Merchant "essel which was proceeding from Salalah#$man to

Mom%assa#&enya'(

2. The art"culars rov"e *& the rosecut"on are that they fired gunshots and a )oc*et

!ropelled +renade at the MSC asmine(.

3. The twelve accuse leae not !u"lt& to the char!e an were ass"ste *& resect"vel&

essrs . a!hunanan $. aha"ssoon . . amsaha . . uccha& /.

amchurn . %a"ach& . han" (on" . . amchurn ;. amful . 5, was the aster an r . &ola +>6, (econ =ff"cer. (ecur"t&

off"cers arme w"th sem"-automat"c weaons were on *oar *ecause of the h"!h-r"s

area. $roun 2.00m ? when the& were at 140 from the (omal" coast accor"n! to

r &ola ? *oth off"cers were on the *r"!e when the secur"t& team leaer "nforme

the crew that a *oat was aroach"n! from star*oar +r"!ht, s"e at 4 "stance. The

automat"c raar lott"n! a" +$%$, coul not "c "t ue to the state of the sea:

ata"n oano& an r &ola ha v"sual contact onl& at f"rst. The& starte

emer!enc& roceures as the craft was tr&"n! to aroach w"thout ra"o contact an

at h"!h see mean"n! an attac or an attemt at attac. The asm"ne "ncrease "ts

see to 11.2 nots an the secur"t& team f"re warn"n! flares *ut the s"ff wh"ch was

travell"n! at a*out 19 nots came closer. ata"n oano& sent an emer!enc& s"!nal

v"a satell"te.

6. ata"n oano& an r &ola "ent"f"e a wh"te s"ff w"th some ar a"nt on the

*ow an w"th weaons. The s"ff move from ort to star*oar close an then awa&

from the ( asm"ne the closest *e"n! a*out 180m. ata"n oano& saw a*out s"@to e"!ht ersons on the s"ff. (hots were f"re from the s"ff an two secur"t& !uars

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on the ( asm"ne f"re *ac. $t one o"nt the secur"t& !uars warne that a ocet

%roelle renae +%, was *e"n! f"re from the s"ff an after some ten secons

there was a soun of metal "mact w"th the hull of the sh". The % " not e@loe.

The f"r"n! an cross-f"r"n! laste for a*out 30mn. ullets some of wh"ch were a"n to

$47 *ullets remove a"nt *ut " not ama!e the vessel an one *ullet was foun

"n a conta"ner. The s"ff then stoe wh"lst the ( asm"ne move south at 12.2

nots. $t a*out 3 the s"ff move westAnorthwest towars the (omal" coast at

a*out 3 to 4: the& lost v"sual an raar contact after 4 an " not see the s"ff

!ather see. The attac ha laste 40 to 45mn en"n! aroun 2.45m. $fter 5 to

10mn r &ola saw a craft wh"ch ha no f"sh"n! fac"l"t"es or an&th"n!: "t was on a

*ear"n! 330B northAnorthwest. $ hel"coter arr"ve aroun 3.45m an ata"n

oano& "nforme someone that the& were safe that a wh"te s"ff ha attace them

an ha !one westwars. r &ola hear the secur"t& off"cers !"ve the hel"coter the

aro@"mate locat"on an "rect"on of the s"ff. ata"n oano& too hoto!rahs

ur"n! the attac when the ( asm"ne was aro@"matel& s"@ ca*les awa& from the

s"ff an also too hoto!rahs of the *ullets +;ocs. $ $1 $ $1 to $3,.

There was no reort to ata"n oano& of an& whaler tow"n! a s"ff.

7. =n 5 anuar& 2013 hat the hel"coter recore was sent to the D(( 'al&*urton "n real t"me. The D((

'al&*urton shaowe the whaler an s"ff all n"!ht. 'eartache 43 " not locate an&

other contacts "n the area. There "s alwa&s the oss"*"l"t& that there were other vessels

he " not see.

8. =n 5 anuar& 2013 aroun 3.00m ; ;. . lemons +>7, was "n h"s off"ce on theD(( 'al&*urton when the& !ot a "stress call from the ( asm"ne that "rates were

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10. =ff"cer . 'ner +>16, flew the ester D(( %-3 harl"e on a surface search m"ss"on

"n the n"!ht of 5 anuar& 2013 to search for oss"*le %$. 'e !ot "nformat"on a*out a

whaler an a s"ff from Tas"n! $uthor"t"es. The& reache the oerat"ons area where

there was a reorte "rate attac aroun 8.00m. The& "ent"f"e two contacts on

raar: a whaler tow"n! a s"ff travell"n! at a*out 6 nots 30 northAnorthwest of

the os"t"on he rece"ve. The see of the whaler an s"ff the "stance an t"me-lase

all matche. The s"ff was emt&. There were fourteen *arrels a lon! laer an

eole on the whaler an no f"sh"n! eEu"ment therefore tr"w"res of a %$. %"ctures

were e@tracte from a v"eo stream +;ocs. $$ $$1 an $$2 +"nfrare,,. %$

cons"sts of a mothersh" an one or two fast mov"n! s"ffs an the whaler acte as a

mothersh". The& trace *oth contacts for a*out 20mn an then the whaler slowe

own. $roun 8.30m throu!h raar an "nfrare camera he saw two ersons an

one rum transferre to the s"ff an the whaler sl"t from the s"ff. The whaler

move northAnorthwest at 6 nots an the s"ff at 10 nots. $ccor"n! to h"m the s"ff

coul not travel at 19.2 nots for more than two m"nutes. $ coule of hours later the

laer was m"ss"n!. The& e@ane the search to 60@60 *ut there were no other

contacts "n the area on the raar wh"ch can etect ver& small "eces "n the water. The&

trace the s"ff unt"l 1.30am an at t"mes focuse on the whaler w"th the raar.

11. =n 6 anuar& 2013 at 4.00am r lemons !ot "nformat"on that the %3 was trac"n!

the s"ff wh"ch ha searate from the whaler ur"n! the n"!ht an he too off "n

'eartache 43 at 5.30am to trac the s"ff. The r"t"sh hel"coter from the (urcouf the

(tr"er o"ne h"m an the& sl"t for the search he ta"n! the western an northern

half. 'e foun the s"ff 5 from the locat"on !"ven *& the %3 an no other vessel: "t

was the same s"ff he ha trace "n the last os"t"on !"ven *& the %3. 'e mae sure

the (urcouf ha a !oo v"sual "ent"f"cat"on of the s"ff *efore he returne to the D((

'al&*urton. There were two ersons on *oar the s"ff wh"ch was mov"n! at a*out

5 towars the northwest: there was no f"sh"n! eEu"ment *ut onl& *arrels of fuel.

'e went *ac to the whaler wh"ch was the same one trace on the eve an starte

cover"n! the *oar"n!. There seeme to *e a lot of eole on the whaler no ra"o an

the oles an !ral"n! hoos were m"ss"n!. 'e en"e hav"n! "ce u on the

whaler as a matter of conven"ence as he " not f"n a s"ff w"th e"!ht ersons. The

s"ff an whaler foun on 5 anuar& 2013 were the ones seen on 6 anuar& 2013*ecause the& were cont"nuousl& mon"tore.

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12. r '. a"nJ omman"n! =ff"cer of the (urcouf +>18, rece"ve a "stress call from

the ( asm"ne throu!h ercur& chat on 5 anuar& 2013. In h"s statement of 8

anuar& 2013 he ment"one e@chan!e of f"re *etween ( asm"ne an a wh"te s"ff

an the s"ff mov"n! west after the attac. The surve"llance trac"n! "ntercet"on an

*oar"n! resulte from the hel"coters "lots) conclus"on that the whaler tow"n! the

wh"te s"ff the& ha locate were the authors of the attac. The o"nt of attac was at

more than 200 from the (omal" coast. %"rates usuall& have a mothersh" a whaler

or a how an a s"ff so f"n"n! a whaler an a s"ff after the attac woul have

meant the authors of the attac. The hel"coter eEu"e w"th surface raar an w"th

e@cellent weather woul have ha a lar!e "ma!e an woul have etecte an& other

contact. The omman"n! =ff"cer of =erat"on $talanta orere them to the sot the

asm"ne was attace. The& were commun"cat"n! w"th the D(( 'al&*urton "ts

hel"coter an mar"t"me atrol a"rcrafts. =n 6 anuar& 2013 the (tr"er too over

surve"llance of the s"ff from the D(( 'al&*urton hel"coter an later locate the

whaler. r a"nJ orere the "ntervent"ons on the vessels: the *oar"n! team too

*ac the two ersons on *oar the s"ff an the ten ersons on *oar the whaler to the

(urcouf an all the e@h"*"ts from the two vessels were collecte. The s"ff coul

conta"n a*out ten ersons. r a"nJ o*ta"ne the author"sat"on from $m"ral e

%arees Corce omman of =erat"on $talanta to estro& the s"ff an whaler as the

former was too *"! to *r"n! on *oar an the latter leae. The estruct"on was not

el"*erate or to h"e someth"n!.

13. $ccor"n! to Crench le!al roceure r a"nJ ha author"t& to reta"n the susecte

"rates for 48 hours after wh"ch the u!e author"se h"m "n wr"t"n! to reta"n them for

120 hours +5 a&s, on three occas"ons. The arrest ment"one "n the statement of %(

ara"n means appr-hend-(. =n *oar the (urcouf the ersons were me"call&

e@am"ne the"r roert& ut "n *a!s an the"r names ascerta"ne. There were no

comla"nts from them *ut the& refuse to tae foo on two morn"n!s. 'e "s not aware

that someone threw ur"ne at $ccuse no.12. =n 6 anuar& 2013 the Crench author"t"es

ec"e not to tae ur"s"ct"on an the


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;ocs. 1 to 79 were taen from the 'eartache 43 (tr"er an ester an ;ocs. K

K1 to K4 were rawn follow"n! the "nformat"on rela&e on ercur& chat.

14. =n 6 anuar& 2013 r 'en"cs le a ar"t"me (ecur"t& $roach +($, to

"nvest"!ate the whaler the onl& vessel "n the area *ase on "rac& tr"w"res that "s

e@cess"ve rums hoos an laers more weaons than usual lac of f"sh"n!

eEu"ment lot of car!o an e@cess"ve ersonnel for the vessel. There was no ra"o on

*oar the whaler so the& sw"tche to /'C +m"crohone L seaer,. 'e ase

Euest"ons throu!h the "nterreter: the crew stoe the en!"ne an "n"cate the& ha

no weaons on *oar. There were no %( or other nav"!at"on "nstrument an no

o*v"ous s"!n of f"sh"n! !ear or *o@es of "ce for f"sh. The& " not f"n an& weaon on

*oar wh"ch was unl"el& for that area as most f"sherman carr& r"fles for rotect"on.

The aster sa" the& were art of a !rou of whalers search"n! for a lost vessel. The&

not"ce a lot of *arrels an foun *lanets a tar foostuff an a l"fe acet wh"ch the

aster sa" he foun float"n! "n the water. It "s "ff"cult to "ent"f& whether "t "s the

whaler the& "ntercete from ;ocs. /1 to /3. 'e cannot "ent"f& the whaler he

*oare from ;ocs. 1 an 12. 'e cannot recall an&th"n! sec"al a*out the s"ff *ut

there were two ersons on "t when he f"rst saw "t *r"efl& on camera. The urose of

chas"n! the whaler on 6 anuar& 2013 was *ase on a reconce"ve "ea that the

whaler was "nvolve "n "rac& act"v"t"es *ase on tr" w"res an "ts ro@"m"t& to the

"nc"ent area.

15. =n 6 anuar& 2013 at a*out 5.13am t . ur +>22, Cl"!ht ommaner of the

(tr"er was a"r*orne to f"n a s"ff an whaler reorte *& another un"t. 'eartache 43

!ave h"m the os"t"on of the s"ff. 'e foun the s"n!le s"ff !o"n! at 10 to 15 nots

fa"rl& errat"c to the northAnorthwest towars (omal"a: he aroache "t an too

hoto!rahs +;ocs M M1 an M2,. The s"ff ha a fa"rl& "st"nct"ve mar ? !reen a"nt

? on the *ow conta"ne two ersons one lar!e rum smaller last"c o"l rums an an

out*oar motor "n !oo con"t"on *ut no nav"!at"on or f"sh"n! eEu"ment. The&

stoe the s"ff an rov"e cover for the *oar"n! team from the (urcouf. ater

that a& he reeate the roceure for the whaler: he saw a*out f"ve ersons on *oar

lots of o"l rums an no f"sh"n! or nav"!at"on eEu"ment. 'e too hoto!rahs +;ocs.

N N1 an N2, an use a #(to) s"!n an han s"!nals to mae "t sto an the ersonsmove to the *ow an wa"te for the "ntervent"on team from the (urcouf to arr"ve. 'e

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also too the hoto!rahs mare as ;ocs. 1 to 3 28 to 30 an 55. $ s"ff

err& cans a rum last"c F*a!sG an an out*oar motor oes not necessar"l& mean a

"rate sh" *ut the s"ff ha no "ce-*o@ an was ver& far from the coast an " not f"t

w"th a f"sh"n! attern-of-l"fe. In h"s e@er"ence the f"rst th"n! eole who fa"l an act of

"rac& o "s throw the"r weaons "n the water.

16. =n 6 anuar& 2013 =ff"cer C. e Toulec +>21, was "n char!e of the team that

"ntervene on the s"ff "n the morn"n! an on the whaler "n the afternoon after the

hel"coter was a"r*orne. The& commun"cate w"th the (urcouf ur"n! the

"ntervent"ons. There was no "nterreter w"th them on the s"ff *ut he came on *oar

the whaler later. The& chece for an!erous o*ects Euest"one the ersons " a ru*

own search an searche the vessels. =n the s"ff there were two ersons as well as

*arrels of fuel water foo mone& an a telehone char!er an on the whaler ten

ersons fuel foo a l"fe-acet "tchen utens"ls an a (I car *ut no f"sh"n! or

"rac& eEu"ment. The ersons sa" the& were f"shermen loo"n! for shars ha *een

loo"n! for a lost whaler for ten a&s an four *arrels of fuel were for the secon

whaler: last"c restra"nts were ut on them an the& were transferre to the (urcouf.

'e "s not aware of an& comla"nts. The s"ff an whaler coul *e e@h"*"ts. 'e too

hoto!rahs an f"lme the events on the s"ff an !ave "nstruct"ons for hotos to *e

taen. The e@h"*"ts were ut "n *a!s an transferre to the hol of the (urcouf uner

loc. 'e wore new late@ !loves when he hanle the e@h"*"ts. 'e "ent"f"e 14, who conf"rme such

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recet"on an su*seEuent rem"ttance to TT2 . $. 15,. The& " not v"ew

the ;.

18. r


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char!e an ote to *e le!all& reresente. $ccuse nos.8 an 11 comla"ne of "ll-

treatment *& the Crench nav&.

22. =n 28 anuar& 2013 %( ;awooee too the e@h"*"ts wh"ch ha *een uner loc an

e& at the I; to the C( for e@am"nat"on an collecte them an a reort on 3

$r"l 2013: no*o& tamere w"th the e@h"*"ts. The e@h"*"ts were et "n the I;

27, was at the a"rort "n aur"t"us on 25 anuar& 2013 ur"n! the

hanover e@erc"se. 'e "nterrete Euest"ons caut"one the twelve susecte "rates

"nforme them of the offence an of the"r onst"tut"onal r"!hts. 'e also acte as

"nterreter ur"n! the recor"n! of the statements of the twelve accuse "n the er"o

anuar& to a& 2013: he translate Euest"ons from


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!unshot res"ue. It was teste os"t"ve for a m"@ture of lea *ar"um an ant"mon&

art"cles +chem"cal elements, an for ;$. ea *ar"um an ant"mon& as a m"@ture

woul most commonl& *e use "n ammun"t"on. ("n cells were recovere from

10$ an !enerate a ;$ m"@ture rof"le of a m"nor contr"*utor an a maor

contr"*utor: $ccuse no.10 coul not *e e@clue as the !enet"c contr"*utor. There

was the oss"*"l"t& of contam"nat"on ur"n! the hanl"n! of the susecte "rates. 'e

coul not sa& whether the erson wear"n! "tem 10$ actuall& "schar!e the

f"rearm.

26. =n 9 an 18 $r"l 2013 "n aur"t"us t. ommaner . ("mson +>24, rem"tte to

%( ara"nAI; statements he collecte from w"tnesses lemons 'aut >oowar

;ane o@ 'en"cs la"ne "a ,. %last"c restra"nts were al"e to the susecte "rates

an the& were escorte from the sh" to a *us wh"ch too them to the a"rort. The

susecte "rates were !"ven a full *r"ef"n! of what was haen"n! throu!h an

"nterreter. 'e then hane them over to %( ara"n chec"n! each erson a!a"nst the

oss"er: the& were taen to the a"rcraft *& a r"vate secur"t& team. %( ara"n an he

s"!ne forms +or"!"nals an ul"cates, for the transfer +;ocs. O O1 to O3,. There

were no comla"nts at an& t"me.

he case for the defence

28. The efence close "ts case w"thout auc"n! an& ev"ence.

29. The out-of-ourt statements recore from $ccuse nos.1 to 12 "n (omal" an the


12/45

C C1 to C5 1 to 8 1 to 5 ' '1 to '5 1 to 5 1 to 5 an

1 to 5,. The (omal" vers"ons were rea out "n ourt.

30. In such efence statements $ccuse nos.1 to 9 an $ccuse nos.11 an 12 en"e the

offence of act of "rac&. $ccuse nos.1 an 2 am"tte that the& were on a s"ff sa"

that on 5 anuar& 2013 the& were on a f"sh"n! e@e"t"on "n a wh"te s"ff on the h"!h

seas an that the& ha foo nets an hoos on *oar an no means of

commun"cat"on no weaons an no refr"!erator th"s er $ccuse no.2. The& ha

e@chan!e the f"sh for 200lt of fuel "n err&cans an ha thrown the nets "n the sea

*ecause accor"n! to $ccuse no.2 the s"ff ha techn"cal ro*lems an the en!"ne

was so"le.

31. $ccuse nos. 3 to 9 an 11 an 12 en"e the offence of act of "rac& an e"ther sa"

that the& " not have an& s"ff w"th them or that the& ha not seen an&. The& am"tte

that the& were on a whaler. The& sa" that the& were f"shermen an that on 5 anuar&

2013 the& were to!ether on a wh"te whaler loo"n! for a lost whaler wh"ch ha e"!ht

to th"rteen ersons on *oar. $ccor"n! to $ccuse no.7 who the other accuse sa"

was "n char!e of the whaler wh"ch was owne *& one $*"rahman the& were at

125 off the coast. $ccor"n! to $ccuse no.12 the& coul !o u to 300 off the

coast of (omal"a as there was a shorta!e of f"sh alon! the coast. $ccor"n! to $ccuse

no.7 the whaler coul travel at a*out 5Ahour.

32. $ccuse no.4 sa" the& ha foo fuel water coal o"l an coo"n! eEu"ment on

*oarP $ccuse no.5 sa" the& ha fuel an rums of waterP $ccuse no.6 sa" the&

ha water fuel an fooP $ccuse no.7 sa" the& ha "esel *arrels of fuel an water

an no eEu"ment an he en"e that the& "sose of a !ral"n! hooP $ccuse no.8

sa" the& ha eEu"ment 10 rums of fuel 3 rums of water nets an hoosP $ccuse

no.9 sa" that the& ha rums of fuel water 2 nets an 20 hoos *ut no weaons an

he en"e that the& "sose of laer oles an !ral"n! hoosP $ccuse no.11 sa"

the& ha fuel water an the"r *elon!"n!s an en"e that the& "sose of oles etcP

an $ccuse no.12 sa" that the& ha 10 rums of o"l 3 rums of water nets an

hoos *ut no laer or oles.

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33. $ccuse no.4 coul not sa& where the other whaler !ot lostP $ccuse no.5 sa" that the

whaler ha *een lost for f"ve a&s *efore the& looe for "tP $ccuse no.6 sa" that

the& ha left (omal"a ten a&s *eforeP $ccuse no.7 sa" that the& left (omal"a on 20

an 26 ;ecem*er 2013 for f"sh"n! uroses an that the& ha *een loo"n! for the lost

whaler for ten a&sP that the& ha *een on a f"sh"n! e@e"t"on at f"rst an the& ha

taen fuel to the other whalerP that *oth whalers ha taen the f"sh to the coastP an

that the& ha left the"r eEu"ment alon! the coast an ha come *ac to sea for the"r

eEu"ment an to *r"n! fuel to the other whaler on the h"!h seasP $ccuse no.8 sa"

that the& ha *een on a f"sh"n! e@e"t"on for ten a&s *efore the arrest an that after

f"ve a&s the& " not see the whaler an looe for "t an that the& left the"r f"sh"n!

eEu"ment on lan: $ccuse no.9 sa" the& were loo"n! for f"sh an for the lost

whalerP $ccuse no.11 sa" the& were loo"n! for a lost whaler on $ccuse no.7)s

"nstruct"ons an that he ha seen a whaler two n"!hts *efore the arrestP an $ccuse

no.12 sa" that the& were f"sh"n! for shars an later that the& were not !o"n! f"sh"n!

*ut to loo for a lost whaler.

34. $ccuse nos.4 an 7 sa" that the former ha urchase the l"fe acet foun on *oar

for f"ve ollars. $ccuse no.9 sa" the& urchase the l"fe acet from the maret an

en"e that $ccuse no.7 foun "t on the h"!h seas one an half months a!o.

35. $ccuse no.8 sa" that the& et the f"sh "n a refr"!erator on a whaler wh"lst at the

same t"me acnowle!"n! that the whaler was not f"tte w"th a refr"!erator. $ccuse

no.12 sa" there was no refr"!erator on *oar an that the& ha transferre the f"sh to a

s"ff *efore !o"n! *ac f"sh"n!.

36. $ccuse no.7 sa" that the (I car was h"s an that the& ha one mo*"le hone

wh"ch fell "n sea near the coast an that he !ave the (I car to someone to mae a

call when the& were on lan. $ccuse no.8 sa" the& ha two telehones on *oar the

whaler wh"ch !ot so"le *& sea water: he threw awa& h"s hone an the other one !ot

lost at sea.

37. $ccuse no.7 comla"ne of "ll-treatment *& the Crench nav&.

38. $ccuse no.10 refuse to answer all Euest"ons ut to h"m as well as the char!e.

13


14/45

39. $ccuse nos.2 3 5 6 7 8 9 an 11 mae statements from the oc. $ccuse nos.2

an 3 sa" that the& were "nnocent an ha not comm"tte an& cr"me.

40. $ccuse no.5 sa" he was "nnocent.

41. $ccuse no.6 sa" that he was "nnocent has ch"lren an a w"fe an has no "ea where

the& are at the moment.

42. $ccuse no.7 sa" that he was loo"n! for a lost whaler an "n the rocess was

*rou!ht "n an h"s *oat estro&e. The& were earn"n! the"r l"vel"hoo an the *oat

the& use to earn a l"vel"hoo was estro&e.

43. $ccuse no.8 sa" that he was "nnocent an ha not comm"tte an& cr"me. 'e has a

w"fe an ch"lren an oes not now the"r therea*outs.

44. $ccuse no.9 sa" he was "nnocent an ha not comm"tte an& cr"me an "s as"n! the

ourt to !"ve h"m h"s freeom.

45. $ccuse no.11 sa" he was "nnocent an ha not comm"tte an& cr"me. 'e has a

fam"l& +w"fe an ch"lren, an he oes not now where the& are l"v"n! u to now.

.iscussion

46. The twelve accuse are char!e w"th the offence of #act of "rac&) uner sect"on 3+1,

of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct: an "nformat"on ate 4 une 2013 was

lo!e on the same ate *efore the Interme"ate ourt. $ct of "rac& ma& *e

const"tute *& several acts as rov"e uner sect"on 3 of the %"rac& an ar"t"me

/"olence $ct. 'owever the elements of the art"cular act of "rac& as chosen *& the

rosecut"on are as follows:

1. $n act of "rac& to w"t: an "lle!al act of v"olenceP

2. >"lfull& an unlawfull& comm"tte *& the twelve accuse art"esP3. ;"recte a!a"nst the ( asm"neP

14


15/45

4. =n the h"!h seasP

5. Cor r"vate ens.

47. efore cons"er"n! the elements of the offence roer we w"ll aress a coule of

"ssues that arose "n the wr"tten su*m"ss"ons f"le.

urisdiction

48. (ect"on 7 of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct rov"es that:

+1, otw"thstan"n! an& other enactment rosecut"on for an offence uner

th"s $ct shall at the sole "scret"on of the ;"rector of %u*l"c

%rosecut"ons tae lace *efore a u!e w"thout a ur& or the

Interme"ate ourt.

+2, otw"thstan"n! an& other enactment the Interme"ate ourt shall

have ur"s"ct"on to "nfl"ct enal serv"tue for a term not e@cee"n! 40

&ears where a erson "s conv"cte of an offence uner th"s $ct

49. r uccha& counsel for $ccuse no.4 has "n h"s wr"tten su*m"ss"ons re"terate the

ar!ument that th"s ourt oes not have ur"s"ct"on to tr& the accuse art"es wh"ch

o"nt was ra"se *& r ansroun counsel for $ccuse no.12 on 9 =cto*er 2013.

50. The ourt refers the efence to "ts ul"n! +ul"n! no. 3, el"vere on the same a&

an re"terates "t.

/ct of piracy#/ttempt at piracy

51. There have *een su*m"ss"ons from some Euarters of the efence that the ev"ence on

recor woul at most const"tute an attemt at "rac& an not the full offence of

"rac&.


16/45

flawe "n the l"!ht of sect"on 3+3, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct wh"ch

!"ves the ef"n"t"on of the several acts wh"ch const"tutes #an act of "rac&) an one of

wh"ch "s as follows:

QQ

Fact of "rac&G means ?

+a, an "lle!al act of v"olence or etent"on or an& act of

ereat"on for r"vate ens *& the crew or the assen!ers of a

r"vate sh" or a r"vate a"rcraft an "recte -

+", on the h"!h seas a!a"nst another sh" or a"rcraft or

ersons or roert& on *oar such sh" or a"rcraft as the

case ma& *eP orG

52. Cor all "ntents an uroses "t "s clear that the rosecut"on has chosen to rosecute

the twelve $ccuse art"es for an #act of "rac&) the act *e"n! as er sect"on 3+3,+a,+",

of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct.

53. ow all that the rosecut"on nee rove "s that amon!st other elements const"tut"n!

the act of "rac& as er th"s ef"n"t"on there was an "lle!al act of v"olence "recte

a!a"nst the ( asm"ne. There "s no nee for the attac to *e comlete an the

sh""n! vessel h"ace an ro**e *& the alle!e "rates for the act of "rac& to *e

comlete.

54. Th"s has *een settle "n v"ew of the w"e ef"n"t"on !"ven *& the $ct "tself wh"ch "s

cons"stent w"th the ef"n"t"on !"ven to #act of "rac&) "n $rt"cle 101 of D=(.

55. It "s "nterest"n! to also note that a s"m"lar "scuss"on arose as earl& as "n 1934 *efore

the %r"v& ounc"l "n Re Piracy Jure Gentium 13 AC 58an wh"ch reas as

follows:

Fthe Euest"on whether actual ro**er& "s an essent"al element of the cr"me of

"rac& ure gentium or whether a frustrate attemt to comm"t a "rat"cal

ro**er& "s not eEuall& "rac&ure gentium"s referre to the u"c"al omm"ttee

for the"r hear"n! an cons"erat"onG

16


17/45

56. $fter hav"n! rev"ewe several cases an acaem"c wors the %r"v& ounc"l answere

the a*ove Euest"on as follows:

FR that the *etter v"ew an the roer answer to !"ve to the Euest"on

aresse to them "s that state at the *e!"nn"n! namel& that actual ro**er& "s

not an essent"al element "n the cr"me of "rac& ure !ent"um an that a

frustrate attemt to comm"t "rat"cal ro**er& "s eEuall& "rac& ure !ent"umG

57. ("m"larl& "n the l"!ht of the ef"n"t"ons of acts wh"ch const"tute an act of "rac& uner

the local %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct an uner wh"ch the rosecut"on has

chosen to rosecute the twelve accuse "t suff"ces to rove an "lle!al act of v"olence

amon!st other essent"al elements of th"s ef"n"t"on of #act of "rac&) so that even "f

there has *een no ro**er& no ta"n! over of the sh" no h"ac"n! "t matters not. $ll

that matters "s that there must *e ev"ence of an "lle!al act of v"olence "recte a!a"nst

the ( asm"ne an th"s "s e@tant *e&on reasona*le ou*t "n th"s matter.

58. The same conclus"on as re!ars the ef"n"t"on of the #act of "rac&) "nclu"n! an&

"lle!al act of v"olence was reache *& the Dn"te (tates ;"str"ct ourt for the


18/45

=ff"cer &ola escr"*e the vessel wh"ch attace them as a s"n!le small wh"te s"ff

conta"n"n! s"@ to e"!ht ersons an that "t was a whaler w"th ten ersons w"th a s"ff

"n tow that were locate an arehene *& the concerte search art& of the D(

erman r"t"sh an Crench forces. The efence has also su*m"tte that rosecut"on

w"tnesses a!ree that "t was the "lots of the hel"coters who tr"!!ere the cature of

the twelve accuse on *oar the whaler an s"ff an that there was a reconce"ve

"ea that the& were the eretrators of the act of "rac&.

61. It "s a!ree that as er sect"on 3+3, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct there are

*e several acts wh"ch ma& const"tute an #act of "rac&) an the rosecut"on has chosen

to rosecute the twelve accuse for an #act of "rac&) as er sect"on 3+3,+",+a, of the

sa" $ct wh"ch reas as follows:

In th"s sect"on Fact of "rac&G means ?

+a, an "lle!al act of v"olence or etent"on or an& act of ereat"on for

r"vate ens *& the crew or the assen!ers of a r"vate sh" or a r"vate

a"rcraft an "recte ?

+", on the h"!h seas a!a"nst another sh" or a"rcraft or ersons or

roert& on *oar such sh" or a"rcraft as the case ma& *eP or

+"", a!a"nst a sh" a"rcraft ersons or roert& on *oar the sh" or

a"rcraft as the case ma& *e "n a lace outs"e the ur"s"ct"on of a (tateP

+*, an& act of voluntar& art"c"at"on "n the oerat"on of a sh" or of an

a"rcraft w"th nowle!e of facts ma"n! "t a "rate sh" or a"rcraftP or

+c, an& act of "nc"t"n! or of "ntent"onall& fac"l"tat"n! an act escr"*e "n

ara!rah +a, or +*,P

62. (ect"on 3+3, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct "s a"n to $rt"cle 101 of the

D=( as follows:

%"rac& cons"sts of an& of the follow"n! acts:

+a, an& "lle!al acts of v"olence or etent"on or an& act of ereat"on

comm"tte for r"vate ens *& the crew or the assen!ers of a r"vate sh" or a

r"vate a"rcraft an "recte:+", on the h"!h seas a!a"nst another sh" or a"rcraft or a!a"nst ersons

18


19/45


20/45


21/45

rosecut"on must rove that $ccuse no.6 has e5-cut-physi6uement, mat-riellement

les actes constitutifs du d-lit 7. 'e c"te the case of Ghurburn and Ors v R 10 SC-

336 "n suort of h"s su*m"ss"ons. The "ssue that ar"ses here "s whether all twelve

accuse art"es can *e conv"cte for the act of "rac& as averre *& the rosecut"on.

72. The rosecut"on has su*m"tte that th"s "s ent"rel& oss"*le s"nce all twelve accuse

art"es ha the reEu"re mens rea3an common "ntent"on when the& attace the

( asm"ne.

73. $t the outset "t has to *e sa" that the rosecut"on has rel"e on several u!ments of

the (e&chelles ourt to show the e@"stence of common "ntent"on. 'owever we have to

h"!hl"!ht the fact that these ur"sruence are of no ava"l s"nce the (e&chelles

ur"s"ct"on has a sec"f"c sect"on "n "ts enal coe wh"ch maes "t an offence to

comm"t an offence w"th common "ntent"on +sect"on 23 of the %enal oe of

(e&chelles,. Th"s fore"!n le!al rov"s"on "s clearl& not al"ca*le "n our ourts an the

reference to cases where the sa" rov"s"on of the (e&chelles %enal oe have *een

al"e "s o*v"ousl& not relevant to the resent case.

74. Th"s oes not mean that there "s no such le!al concet uner our law. The concet of

co-authorsh" e@"sts an there are several ronouncements of the (ureme ourt. In

A. G. Faira v !he State2012 SC- 6the (ureme ourt e@la"ne:

=n th"s "ssue ounsel Euote the follow"n! e@tract from Pa(ia7e( A(o% !.

R181 MR 256?

FTo const"tute a common urose "t "s not necessar& that there shoul

*e a re-arran!e lan. The common urose ma& *e forme on the sur of

the moment an even after the offence has alrea& commence.G

an the follow"n! fromR v Hun"sra#190 MR 96

F>hen cons"er"n! the Euest"on of common urose "t must

not *e overlooe that "n r"nc"le "ts e@"stence oes not een onan& a!reement *etween co-el"nEuents anter"or to the comm"ss"on of

21
http://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1990%20SCJ%20339&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1990%20SCJ%20339&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=2012%20SCJ%20466&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=2012%20SCJ%20466&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1981%20MR%20254&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1981%20MR%20254&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1970%20MR%2074&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1990%20SCJ%20339&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1990%20SCJ%20339&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1970%20MR%2074&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=2012%20SCJ%20466&dt=Jhttp://www1.gov.mu/scourt/doc/showDoc.do?dk=1981%20MR%20254&dt=J


22/45


23/45

:l appartient au5 tri%unau5 de distinguer dans les actes de

complicit- ceu5 6ui e5trins=6ues > l3acte coupa%le, tendent > en

pr-parer, faciliter et r-aliser la consommation, et ceu5 6ui, par la

simultan-it- d3action et l3assistance r-cipro6ue, constituent la

perp-tration m?me H!age IJK'

93auteur est celui 6ui commet les actes mat-riels constitutifs du

crime ou du d-lit ou ceu5 6ui sont n-cessaires > cette e5-cution 1 par

e5emple dans le vol, l3auteur est l3individu 6ui s3empare des valeurs ou

6ui aide > l3effraction du coffreLfort 9e complice est celui 6ui

accomplit des actes 6ui, sans faire partie de l3e5-cution du d-lit ou ?tre

n-cessaires > cette e5-cution, le facilitent par une aide ou une

assistance' :l n3est 6ue complice, par e5emple celui 6ui aide l3auteur

d3un vol en faisant le guet ou en tenant une -chelle 9es actes d3aide

ou d3assistance dans la consommation d3un d-lit ne sont pas les actes

du d-lit H!age EGEK' 7

75. Thus "t "s clear that for the twelve accuse to *e conv"cte uner the resent

"nformat"on the rosecut"on must rove *e&on reasona*le ou*t that the twelve

accuse are co-authors who acte w"th a common urose "n the comm"ss"on of the

actes mat-riels constitutifs ducrime3.

76. The actes mat-riels constitutifs3 of the offence uner scrut"n& "s unou*tel& the

"lle!al act of v"olence. onseEuentl& "n the l"!ht of the a*ove author"t"es there woul

not *e an& re"cament to f"n that the s"@ to e"!ht accuse art"es who were "n the

s"ff ha the common urose to comm"t the "lle!al act of v"olence an therefore that

the& acte as co-authors.

77. The same conclus"on cannot however *e reache as re!ars the other four to s"@

ersons who were on the whaler at the mater"al t"me so that there clearl& cannot *e

s"multaneousness of the act of the co-authors an mutual ass"stance to an author of a

cr"me "n v"ew of the s"!n"f"cant "stance *etween the s"ff an the whaler. $t *est the&

are accoml"ces who have V accoml"t es actes Eu" sans fa"re art"e e l)e@Jcut"on

23


24/45

u Jl"t ou Wtre nJcessa"res X cette e@Jcut"on le fac"l"tent ar une a"e ou une

ass"stance. Y

78. e that as "t ma& the offence of "rac& "s const"tute "n a num*er of wa&s as rov"e

*& sect"on 3+3,+c, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct an one of wh"ch "s as

follows:

Fan& act of "nc"t"n! or of "ntent"onall& fac"l"tat"n! an act escr"*e "n ara!rah

+a, or +*,PG

79. Thus the four to s"@ ersons who were on the whaler coul have *een rosecute for

an #act of "rac&) *ut ursuant to sect"on 3+3,+c, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence

$ct as accoml"ces an not uner sect"on 3+3,+a,+", of the sa" $ct as resentl& st&le

"n the "nformat"on *efore us.

80. The s"tuat"on "s comara*le to a case of larcen& *e"n! comm"tte *& f"ve ersons "n a

*un!alow an two others who rove the other f"ve to the locus an were wa"t"n! "n a

lorr& outs"e on the roa.


25/45


26/45

Fh"!h seas ?

+a, has the same mean"n! as "n D=(P an

+*, "nclues the


27/45

sh" at that t"me. learl& th"s means that the attac occurre "n the


28/45

$ccuse nos.1 5 6 an 12 sa" the& were "n the terr"tor"al waters of (omal"a $ccuse

no.4 that he coul not remem*er where he was at that t"me an $ccuse no.9 that he

was at sea.

100. e that as "t ma& "n the l"!ht of the cons"stent test"mon& from r &ola an

e@er"ence nav"!ator who was on the ( asm"ne wh"lst "t was uner attac we

f"n we cannot ou*t h"s wors when he state that the sh" was some 140 off the

(omal" coast. =n the *as"s of h"s ev"ence we f"n that the rosecut"on has fa"le to

rove *e&on reasona*le ou*t one of the essent"al elements of the offence uner

sect"on 3 of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct namel& that the act of "rac&

comm"tte a!a"nst the ( asm"ne occurre on the h"!h seas

Aor private ends

101. r amful counsel for $ccuse no.9 has su*m"tte that the "nformat"on oes

not "sclose an offence nown "n law as the rosecut"on has fa"le to aver an to rove

that the act of "rac& was for r"vate ens.

102. r (. ho&roo (tate ounsel referre the ourt to the"r su*m"ss"ons at a!e

52 an ae that the Informat"on as rafte avers the elements of the offence "n l"ne

w"th sect"on 3+1, of the %"rac& an ar"t"me /"olence $ct an that the& nee not aver

#for r"vate ens).

103. >hat an "nformat"on shoul conta"n "s st"ulate at sect"on 125 of the ;"str"ct an

Interme"ate ourts +r"m"nal ur"s"ct"on, $ct wh"ch reas as follows:

+1, The escr"t"on "n the "nformat"on of an& offence "n the wors of the

enactment creat"n! such offence w"th the mater"al c"rcumstances of the

offence char!e shall *e suff"c"ent.

+2, $n& e@cet"on e@emt"on rov"so or Eual"f"cat"on whether "t oes or

oes not accoman& the escr"t"on of the offence "n the law creat"n! such

offence ma& *e rove *& the efenant *ut nee not *e sec"f"e "n the

"nformat"on or rove *& the rosecutor.

28


29/45


30/45

that those e@h"*"ts were uner loc an e& "n the hol of the (urcouf unt"l he rem"tte

them to %( ara"n an that no one tamere w"th them.

111.

>e eEuall& have no reason to ou*t the wor of %( ara"n that the e@h"*"ts werealwa&s "n h"s custo& on the ourne& from ;"*out" to aur"t"us unt"l he loce them

"n the I; e@h"*"t roomP an that he later remove them for e@am"nat"on at the C(

an loce them a!a"n "n the sa" e@h"*"t room after e@am"nat"on u to the o"nt the&

were remove to *e rouce "n ourt. >e also accet as true h"s test"mon& that

no*o& "nterfere w"th the e@h"*"ts.

he !olice :n6uiry @ .efence statements

112. It was ut to w"tnesses $*"rahman ara"n an ;awooee that the e note that r a"nJ sa" that the o" 2011-13 woul al& for the

r-tention 7of susecte "rates on *oar of a Crench warsh" ? the (urcouf ? *ut

woul not al& for the estruct"on of vessels susecte to have *een use "n an act of

"rac& an se"He *& the Crench nav& more sec"f"call& ersonnel of the Crench

warsh" (urcouf. 'e further sa" that he was act"n! uner "rect"ons from the Corce

omman of =erat"on $talanta when he orere the estruct"on of the whaler an

30


31/45

s"ff.

116. >e a!ree that we are not cometent to ec"e on the "ssue whether r a"nJ

acte "n contravent"on of $rt"cle 4 of o" 2013-11 or not. 'owever we feel ut&

*oun to sa& as a ourt of aw hear"n! the Tr"al of twelve accuse susecte of

hav"n! comm"tte an act of "rac& who were arehene *& the Crench nav& an

then transferre to aur"t"an ur"s"ct"on uner transfer a!reements w"th the


32/45

+a, the sh" "s en!a!e "n "rac&P

+*, the sh" "s en!a!e "n the slave traeP

+c, the sh" "s en!a!e "n unauthor"He *roacast"n! an the fla! (tate

of the warsh" has ur"s"ct"on uner art"cle 109P

+, the sh" "s w"thout nat"onal"t&P or

+e, thou!h fl&"n! a fore"!n fla! or refus"n! to show "ts fla! the sh" "s

"n real"t& of the same nat"onal"t& as the warsh".

2. In the cases rov"e for "n ara!rah 1 the warsh" ma& rocee to ver"f&

the sh"Zs r"!ht to fl& "ts fla!. To th"s en "t ma& sen a *oat uner the

comman of an off"cer to the susecte sh". If sus"c"on rema"ns after the

ocuments have *een chece "t ma& rocee to a further e@am"nat"on on

*oar the sh" wh"ch must *e carr"e out w"th all oss"*le cons"erat"on.

3. If the sus"c"ons rove to *e unfoune an rov"e that the sh" *oare

has not comm"tte an& act ust"f&"n! them "t shall *e comensate for an& loss

or ama!e that ma& have *een susta"ne.

4. These rov"s"ons al& mutat"s mutan"s to m"l"tar& a"rcraft.

5. These rov"s"ons also al& to an& other ul& author"He sh"s or a"rcraft

clearl& mare an "ent"f"a*le as *e"n! on !overnment serv"ce.G

121. There "s no ou*t that *oth the D(( 'al&*urton an the (urcouf were warsh"s

ursuant to the ef"n"t"on of warsh" uner art"cle 29 of the D=( wh"ch

st"ulates that:

FCor the uroses of th"s onvent"on Fwarsh"G means a sh" *elon!"n! to the

arme forces of a (tate *ear"n! the e@ternal mars "st"n!u"sh"n! such sh"s of

"ts nat"onal"t& uner the comman of an off"cer ul& comm"ss"one *& the

!overnment of the (tate an whose name aears "n the aror"ate serv"ce l"st

or "ts eEu"valent an manne *& a crew wh"ch "s uner re!ular arme forces

"sc"l"ne.G

122. Therefore the mem*ers of the (urcouf ha the r"!ht to v"s"t the s"ff an

whaler for the uroses of "nvest"!at"n! the sus"c"on that the& were en!a!e "n

"rac&.

32


33/45

123. The mem*ers of the (urcouf were also allowe to se"He the vessels an arrest

those foun "n the s"ff an whaler ursuant to art"cle 105 of D=( wh"ch reas as

follows:

F=n the h"!h seas or "n an& other lace outs"e the ur"s"ct"on of an& (tate

ever& (tate ma& se"He a "rate sh" or a"rcraft or a sh" or a"rcraft taen *&

"rac& an uner the control of "rates an arrest the ersons an se"He the

roert& on *oar. The courts of the (tate wh"ch carr"e out the se"Hure ma&

ec"e uon the enalt"es to *e "mose an ma& also eterm"ne the act"on to

*e taen w"th re!ar to the sh"s a"rcraft or roert& su*ect to the r"!hts of

th"r art"es act"n! "n !oo fa"th.G

124. It follows from th"s moment that an& ec"s"on to reta"n eta"n those ersons

woul fall uner the laws of the fla! state of the warsh" an "n the resent matter "t "s

Crench law s"nce the (urcouf *elon!s to the Crench nav&. $ccor"n! to ommanant

a"nJ who was "n char!e of the (urcouf he ha wr"tten author"sat"on for the retent"on

of those twelve ersons from the Crench u"c"al author"t"es uner the Crench laws

!overn"n! such s"tuat"ons.

125. In matters concern"n! the er"vat"on of l"*ert& the !overn"n! r"nc"les uner

our law are conta"ne "n sect"on 5 of the onst"tut"on wh"ch woul also *e the

oerat"ve r"nc"les "n th"s case s"nce the tr"al of these twelve accuse art"es "s *e"n!

hel "n aur"t"us. In an& event our rov"s"ons are s"m"lar to the


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a*ove [ 76,.

80. The ourt stresses that where er"vat"on of l"*ert& "s concerne "t "s

art"cularl& "mortant that the !eneral r"nc"le of le!al certa"nt& *e sat"sf"e.

It "s therefore essent"al that the con"t"ons for er"vat"on of l"*ert& uner

omest"c anAor "nternat"onal law *e clearl& ef"ne an that the law "tself *e

foreseea*le "n "ts al"cat"on so that "t meets the stanar of FlawfulnessG set

*& the onvent"on a stanar wh"ch reEu"res that all law *e suff"c"entl&

rec"se to avo" all r"s of ar*"trar"ness an to allow the c"t"Hen ? "f nee *e

w"th aror"ate av"ce ? to foresee to a e!ree that "s reasona*le "n the

c"rcumstances of the case the conseEuences wh"ch a !"ven act"on ma& enta"l

+see amon! other author"t"es $muur c"te a*oveP (teel an =thers v. the

Dn"te "n!om 23 (etem*er 1998 [ 54 eorts 1998-/IIP aranows" v.

%olan no. 28358A95 [[ 50-52 la lutte contre la

piraterie et > lQe5ercice des pouvoirs de police de lQDtat en mer3. $rt"cle 6 of the sa"

o" amens the Crench oe e la ;efense *& "ntrouc"n! sect"on 3 +$rt"cles 1521-11

X 1521-18, . Cor our uroses $rt"cles 1521-12 an 1521-14 rea as follows:

9ors6ue des mesures de restriction ou de privation de li%ert- doivent ?tre

mises en Ruvre, les agents mentionn-s > lQarticle9' E2EL2en avisent le pr-fet

maritime ou, outreLmer, le d-l-gu- du +ouvernement pour lQaction de lQDtat en

mer, 6ui en informe dans les plus %refs d-lais le procureur de la )-pu%li6ue

territorialement comp-tent'

36
http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071307&idArticle=LEGIARTI000006539733&dateTexte=&categorieLien=cidhttp://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071307&idArticle=LEGIARTI000006539733&dateTexte=&categorieLien=cidhttp://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006071307&idArticle=LEGIARTI000006539733&dateTexte=&categorieLien=cid


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/vant l3e5piration du d-lai de 6uaranteLhuit heures > compter de la mise en

Ruvre des mesures de restriction ou de privation de li%ert- mentionn-es >

l3article 9' E2ELE2 et > la demande des agents mentionn-s > l3article 9' E2EL

2, le uge des li%ert-s et de la d-tention saisi par le procureur de la )-pu%li6ue

statue sur leur prolongation -ventuelle pour une dur-e ma5imale de cent vingt

heures > compter de l3e5piration du d-lai pr-c-dent'

Ces mesures sont renouvela%les dans les m?mes conditions de fond et de forme

durant le temps n-cessaire pour 6ue les personnes en faisant l3o%et soient

remises > l3autorit- comp-tente' 7

9e uge des li%ert-s et de la d-tention statue par ordonnance motiv-e

insuscepti%le de recours' Copie de cette ordonnance est transmise dans les

plus %refs d-lais par le procureur de la )-pu%li6ue au pr-fet maritime ou,

outreLmer, au d-l-gu- du +ouvernement pour l3action de l3Dtat en mer, >

charge pour celuiLci de la faire porter > la connaissance de la personne

int-ress-e dans une langue 6u3elle comprend' 7

132. >"thout e@am"n"n! such a "ece of fore"!n law an assess"n! whether "t "s

cons"stent w"th the rov"s"ons of our onst"tut"on uner sect"on 5+1, wh"ch st"ulates

#as may %e authorised %y law3, we have looe at the resent laws uner wh"ch the

twelve accuse were eta"ne an we have foun no rov"s"ons as re!ars contact

w"th a law&er or fam"l&. In short these twelve ersons were et comletel&

"ncommun"cao ur"n! the several a&s on *oar the (urcouf *ase on the omest"c

Crench laws ment"one *& the ommanant. Thus several Euest"on mars m"!ht *e

ra"se as to whether an "n fact the etent"on was not ar*"trar&.

133. >"th resect to the st"ulat"on uner sect"on 5+3, of the onst"tut"on that an&

erson arreste or eta"ne shall *e *rou!ht w"thout unue ela& *efore a court we

have foun the follow"n! ara!rahs from Medvedyev and Others +sura, to *e

art"cularl& helful as re!ars the !eneral r"nc"les !overn"n! th"s r"!ht to a erson

arreste an eta"ne:

F1. eneral r"nc"les

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117. The ourt re"terates that $rt"cle 5 of the onvent"on "s "n the f"rst ran of

the funamental r"!hts that rotect the h&s"cal secur"t& of an "n"v"ual an

that three strans "n art"cular ma& *e "ent"f"e as runn"n! throu!h the ourt)s

case-law: the e@haust"ve nature of the e@cet"ons wh"ch must *e "nterrete

str"ctl& an wh"ch o not allow for the *roa ran!e of ust"f"cat"ons uner other

rov"s"ons +$rt"cles 8 to 11 of the onvent"on "n art"cular,P the reeate

emhas"s on the lawfulness of the etent"on roceurall& an su*stant"vel&

reEu"r"n! scruulous aherence to the rule of lawP an the "mortance of the

romtness or see"ness of the reEu"s"te u"c"al controls uner $rt"cle 5 [[ 3

an 4 +see ca& c"te a*ove [ 30,.

118. The ourt also notes the "mortance of the !uarantees affore *& $rt"cle

5 [ 3 to an arreste erson. The urose of th"s rov"s"on "s to ensure that

arreste ersons are h&s"call& *rou!ht *efore a u"c"al off"cer romtl&. (uch

automat"c e@e"te u"c"al scrut"n& rov"es an "mortant measure of

rotect"on a!a"nst ar*"trar& *ehav"our "ncommun"cao etent"on an "ll-

treatment +see amon! other author"t"es ro!an an =thers c"te a*ove [ 58P

rann"!an an cr"e v. the Dn"te "n!om 26 a& 1993 [[ 62-63

(er"es $ no. 258-P $Eu"l"na v. alta SU no. 25642A94 [ 49 . v. alta SU no.

25644A94 [ 49 29 $r"l 1999,.

120. Ta"n! the "n"t"al sta!e uner the f"rst l"m* wh"ch "s the onl& one at "ssue

here the ourt)s case-law esta*l"shes that there must *e rotect"on throu!h

u"c"al control of an "n"v"ual arreste or eta"ne on sus"c"on of hav"n!

comm"tte a cr"m"nal offence. (uch control serves to rov"e effect"vesafe!uars a!a"nst the r"s of "ll-treatment wh"ch "s at "ts !reatest "n th"s earl&

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er"o of s"@teen a&s was not "ncomat"*le w"th the not"on of FromtnessG

reEu"re uner $rt"cle 5 [ 3 of the onvent"on "n v"ew of the e@"stence of

Fwholl& e@cet"onal c"rcumstancesG that ust"f"e such a ela&. In "ts ec"s"on

the ourt note that the "stance to *e covere was Fcons"era*leG +the sh"

was 5500 m from (an"sh terr"tor& when "t was "ntercete, an that a fort&-

three-hour ela& cause *& res"stance ut u *& the sh")s crew Fcoul not *e

attr"*ute to the (an"sh author"t"esG. It conclue that "t ha *een Fmater"all&

"moss"*le to *r"n! the al"cant h&s"call& *efore the "nvest"!at"n! u!e an&

soonerG wh"le ta"n! "nto account the fact that once he ha arr"ve on (an"sh

so"l the al"cant ha *een "mme"atel& transferre to ar" *& a"r an

*rou!ht *efore the u"c"al author"t& on the follow"n! a&. astl& the ourt

cons"ere Funreal"st"cG the al"cant)s su!!est"on that uner an a!reement

*etween (a"n an the Dn"te "n!om to revent "ll"c"t traff"c "n narcot"c

ru!s "nstea of *e"n! "verte to (a"n the sh" coul have *een taen to

$scens"on Islan wh"ch was aro@"matel& 1600 m from where "t was

"ntercete.

131. In the resent case the ourt notes that at the t"me of "ts "ntercet"on the

>"nner was also on the h"!h seas off the coast of the ae /ere "slans an

therefore a lon! wa& from the Crench coast comara*le to the "stance "n the

"!ooulos case. There was noth"n! to "n"cate that "t too an& lon!er than

necessar& to escort "t to Crance art"cularl& "n v"ew of the weather con"t"ons

an the oor state of rea"r of the >"nner wh"ch mae "t "moss"*le for "t to

travel an& faster. In a"t"on the al"cants " not cla"m that the& coul have

*een hane over to the author"t"es of a countr& nearer than Crance where the&

coul have *een *rou!ht romtl& *efore a u"c"al author"t&. $s to the "ea of

transferr"n! them to a Crench naval vessel to mae the ourne& faster "t "s not

for the ourt to assess the feas"*"l"t& of such an oerat"on "n the c"rcumstances

of the case art"cularl& as "t has not *een esta*l"she that the fr"!ate was

caa*le of accommoat"n! all the crew mem*ers "n suff"c"entl& safe

con"t"ons.G

134. In the resent matter the twelve ersons were er"ve of the"r l"*ert& from 6

40


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to 24 anuar& 2013 on *oar the (urcouf wh"ch "s more than "n the case of the case of

Medvedyev and Othersor that ofRi"o%ouosment"one "n the former case so that we

nee to cons"er whether th"s etent"on also falls w"th"n the ust"f"cat"on al"e "n the

case ofMedvedyev and Others namel& Fwholl& e@cet"onal c"rcumstancesG wh"ch

m"!ht therefore ust"f& the o*v"ous ela&.

135. >e note that the (urcouf as er ommanant a"nJ was somewhere *etween

(e&chelles an (omal"a on the h"!h seas. >e o not f"n "t to *e comara*le w"th the

cons"era*le "stance that ha to *e covere *& the vessels "n the cases ofRi"o%ouos

orMedvedyev and Others. oreover we tae "nto cons"erat"on the fact that Crance

ha alrea& refuse to tr& the twelve ersons so that there was no Euest"on of *r"n!"n!

them to Crance. oreover there "s no ev"ence whatsoever of sea con"t"ons hav"n!

*e"n! rou!h wh"ch woul have revente the sw"ft nav"!at"on of the Crench vessel to

the nearest lan. Thus these twelve accuse art"es coul have *een *rou!ht to lan

w"th"n a shorter ela& e"ther to en&a (e&chelles or even aur"t"us. There "s no ou*t

that the Crench av& or other m"l"tar& vessels resent "n the re!"on "n the oerat"on

a!a"nst "rac& ha such transort fac"l"t"es "nclu"n! a"r transort to *r"n! them much

sooner *efore a u"c"al author"t&. It "s here that the "ssent"n! o"n"on "n the case

Medvedyev and Others*ears all "ts "mortance "n assess"n! whether the Crench nav&

" all that was reasona*le to shorten the ela&. The relevant ara!rahs rea as

follows:

F4. In ro!an an =thers v. the Dn"te "n!om +29 ovem*er 1998 [ 62

(er"es $ no. 145-, the ourt hel that a er"o of etent"on "n ol"ce custo&

amount"n! to four a&s an s"@ hours w"thout u"c"al rev"ew fell outs"e the

str"ct constra"nts erm"tte *& $rt"cle 5 [ 3 notw"thstan"n! the fact that "t was

a"me at rotect"n! the commun"t& as a whole from terror"sm. It has also foun

"n _calan v. Ture& +SU no. 46221A99


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of the onvent"on "n v"ew of the Fwholl& e@cet"onal c"rcumstancesG that were

"nvolve there"n. In that case the (an"sh customs author"t"es "n the conte@t of

an "nternat"onal ru! traff"c"n! "nvest"!at"on "ntercete on the h"!h seas a

vessel fl&"n! the %anaman"an fla! an "ts crew was eta"ne for as lon! as "t

too to escort the vessel to a (an"sh ort. In our v"ew however the facts "n

"!ooulos are ent"rel& "st"n!u"sha*le from those of the "nstant case. ost

s"!n"f"cantl& "n "!ooulos there was an "neenent entral Invest"!at"n!

ourt an not a u*l"c rosecutor suerv"s"n! the rocee"n!s on *oar the

sh" on the a& of "ntercet"on. The ver& ne@t a& "ts crew mem*ers were

"nforme of the"r s"tuat"on an av"se of the"r r"!hts. >"th"n two a&s the

court ha orere the crew to *e remane "n custo&. =n the follow"n! a&

the& were ar"se of that ec"s"on an "nv"te to name the ersons the&

wante to have "nforme of the"r etent"on. Th"s "nformat"on was

commun"cate to the resect"ve em*ass"es of the (tates of wh"ch the crew

mem*ers were nat"onals. Three a&s after the *oar"n! the "neenent

"nvest"!at"n! court "ssue an orer re!ular"s"n! the crew)s s"tuat"on "n

accorance w"th the (an"sh oe of r"m"nal %roceure. =ne wee after the

"ntercet"on the al"cant ha access to the serv"ces of a law&er. C"nall& "t

must *e note that the lawfulness of the etent"on w"th re!ar to $rt"cle 5 [ 1

was never "n "ssue "n the "!ooulos case.

6. >e o not e@clue the oss"*"l"t& that there ma& at t"mes e@"st Fwholl&

e@cet"onal c"rcumstancesG wh"ch m"!ht ust"f& a er"o that "s "n r"nc"le at

var"ance w"th the rov"s"ons of $rt"cle 5 [ 3. 'owever "n our v"ew such

c"rcumstances woul nee to *e esta*l"she clearl& an to *e more than

s"ml& Fsec"alG or Fe@cet"onalG. The not"on of Fwholl& e@cet"onal

c"rcumstancesG connotes "f not F"nsurmounta*leG or F"nsuera*leG then at

least c"rcumstances "n wh"ch the author"t"es coul not reasona*l& env"sa!e or

e@ecute an& other measures "n orer to coml& w"th the"r o*l"!at"ons uner the

onvent"on.

7. The overnment ar!ue that the weather con"t"ons at the relevant t"me an

the oor state of rea"r of the >"nner accounte for the ver& slow see of thevessel an thus for the rotracte er"o of t"me that asse *efore "ts crew

42


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resent matter so as to shorten the ela& s"!n"f"cantl&. >e o not f"n that the resent

matter was met w"th Fwholl& e@cet"onal c"rcumstancesG wh"ch warrante the twelve

accuse art"es *e"n! eta"ne or reta"ne an therefore er"ve of the"r l"*ert& for

such a lon! er"o on *oar of the (urcouf.

137. >e also have to stress that there "s no ev"ence whatsoever that ur"n! th"s

er"o of etent"on on *oar the (urcouf the& were "nforme of the"r s"tuat"on an

av"se of the"r r"!hts as well as "nv"te to !"ve the names of those the& wante to

"nform of the"r wherea*outs or even have access to law&ers. It "s to *e note that these

fac"l"t"es were mae ava"la*le "n the case ofRi"o%ouosas "s ev"ent from the a*ove

e@tract.

138. $ll these c"rcumstances mae "t clear that there "s a fla!rant *reach of the

reEu"rement !uarantee uner sect"on 5+3, of the onst"tut"on as well as art"cle 5+3, of

the


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