Somali president pardons jailed Westerners

Abdirahman Omar Osman, the Somali government spokesman, said Sunday the three British nationals, an American and two Kenyans, would be free after a court processes their release. The men were arrested in Mogadishu last month after their planes were found to be carrying millions of dollars in cash. Two of the defendants were sentenced to 15 years in prison and a $15,000 fine, the others were sentenced to 10 years and a $10,000 fine.

Pirates have been receiving millions of dollars in ransoms for several years now but this was the first time Westerners were sentenced for their role in paying out the ransoms.

Source: AP

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