03.18.10
Change of legislation reflects pledge to counter piracy
Minister Joel Morgan said that moves to amend the Penal Code prove the government’s commitment to countering piracy. On March 16, Morgan was speaking in the National Assembly to present the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill that will define the action of piracy and empower the attorney-general to prosecute offences regardless of whether they are committed in or outside the jurisdiction.
The Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport, as well as the head of the High-Level Committee on Piracy said that the amendments update an English law of 1843.
Morgan explained that there is a need to take measures to counter piracy as the situation is getting worse that is revealed by up to 10 attacks by suspected pirates around Seychelles’ exclusive economic zone in the last 10-12 days. The existing laws were not well-suited to the situation like this, while the amended law includes a number of provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. With the changes, courts in Seychelles will be given the power to impose a punishment of 30 years in prison and a fine of R1 million on a person committing the offence of piracy or attempting or conspiring to commit piracy.