Captured Somali Pirate Arrives In NYC

Teenager Awaits Court Hearing After Taking American Cargo Ship Captain Hostage

(AP)  The sole surviving Somali pirate from the hostage-taking of an American ship captain arrived in New York on Monday, smiling for a gaggle of cameras and reporters as federal agents led him into custody to face charges in the attack.

Abduhl Wali-i-Musi was handcuffed and had a chain wrapped around his waist. His left hand was heavily bandaged from the wound he suffered during the skirmish on the ship two weeks ago.

The smiling teenager seemed poised as he entered a federal building in a rainstorm, but he didn't say anything in response to reporters' shouted questions about whether he had any comment about the pirate episode.

Wali-i-Musi is the first person to be tried in the United States on piracy charges in more than a century. He was flown from Africa to a New York airport and taken into custody ahead of a court hearing Tuesday.

A law enforcement official familiar with the case said that the teenager was being charged under two obscure federal laws that deal with piracy and hostage-taking. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the charges had not been announced.

The teenager's arrival came on the same day that his mother appealed to President Barack Obama for his release. She says her son was coaxed into piracy by "gangsters with money."

"I appeal to President Obama to pardon my teenager; I request him to release my son or at least allow me to see him and be with him during the trial," Adar Abdirahman Hassan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press from her home in Galka'yo town in Somalia.

The age and real name of the young pirate remained unclear. The mother said he is only 16 years old and is named Abdi Wali Abdulqadir Muse. The law enforcement official says he is at least 18, meaning prosecutors will not have to take extra legal steps to put him on trial in a U.S. court.

The suspect was taken aboard a U.S. Navy ship shortly before Navy SEAL snipers killed three of his colleagues who had held Capt. Richard Phillips hostage.

The U.S. officials said the teenager was brought to New York to face trial in part because the FBI office here has a history of handling cases in Africa involving major crimes against Americans, such as the al Qaeda bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998.

Ron Kuby, a New York-based civil rights lawyer, said he has been in discussions about forming a legal team to represent the Somalian.

"I think in this particular case, there's a grave question as to whether America was in violation of principles of truce in warfare on the high seas," said Kuby. "This man seemed to come onto the Bainbridge under a flag of truce to negotiate. He was then captured. There is a question whether he is lawfully in American custody and serious questions as to whether he can be prosecuted because of his age."

[chiree]

i don't know what kind of punishment this young man should face. i realize the crime he has committed. the country he came from could offer nothing of a life or future.it looks like he certainly did not profit from his acts but was a tool influenced by the people behind these acts. he is a kid regardless of what he has done. i wish we could convince the world he would be imprisoned for life, to send that message to other pirates.i would give him a new identity and an opportunity to be in our country and be a sailor that sails the same stretch he committed his crime. there is a reason he made the statement to the man who stabbed his hand about wanting to come to america and my god it happened.. this person could have heart and soul and i believe in second chances especially when he was born without a chance. the pirates who really get the ransom maybe using these young victims to be there rebels just like wartorn countries who arm children to commit there terror and crimes. think of all the necessities these people are not born with just to make it thru a day. these third world countries have been forgotten by not only the world but by any authority there country has. i feel any aid to these countries never gets to the people ,they are deprived of every need to rise above there miserable surroundings. may god help this young man in whatever plan he has for him .i will be praying for him and wishing for a miracelous outcome. we don't even punish the monsters here in the u.s. for the heinous crimes they commit everyday upon us.they enjoy there life sentences knowing capital punishment rarely happens and with overcrowding they may get released in our poor and middle class neighborhoods to repeat the same crimes. the government makes sure they are not there neighbors just like most soldiers are not from the wealthy, they just create the wars for us to sacfifice our kids to die in. they now have left our grandchildren in so much debt from these bailouts they will have no future.the u.s.is sinking, the american dream is gone of just having a job and home. everyone should have a job, home, education, healthcare, transportation and then whoever can obtain more has my blessing.you have to have a base to create the next step of existance.

[fundu2009]

i dont get how these pirates can pull this off...there in there boats made out of logs for petes sakes...y cant ships go out there with weapons....missles or something drown all them pirates....

[CLoverNYC1]

On one hand, this is a wonderful opportunity for liberal America to showcase our unparalleled judicial system that metes justice to all, regardless of race, orientation, creed, color or religion.

Try not to gag.

On the other hand, this black, illiterate, bare-foot 17 year old muslim charged with piracy on the high seas will be made an example for all the other Somalis.... don't get caught by US authorities.

[fundu2009]

and since obama wants to look good with other countries his going to let him go....

[noloyalisti]

Don't these desperate right wing wackos have something better to do that follow News for Dumb *** rumors? I guess not.

[wogerwabbit]

12gauge4granny-Say there, I'm getting myself a 9mm as we have to contend with the likes of the libs and the new world order.
Posted by janem4 at 7:48 AM : Apr 21, 2009

you truly have demonstrated yourself to be a sick person

[glidescube]

The last thing NYC needs is another black malre teen with a criminal record.

[Libertarian1776]

frantbk,
No "International Court"
American ship.
American Captain
American Sailors
American Justice!

[pixelslinger]

Um... his mother was an American - so even if he was born in Antarctica he's still born a US citizen. Not that what you're blabbing on about has anything whatsoever to do with this story. Some people just need something to spew and get all frothed in the mouth about.

[martin9p2]

He needs to be treated as an adult because he was playing an adult game in a place where people and handed deadly weapons and become adults at the age of 9.

[12gage4granny]

TO buffalonyusa,
OUCH... Lets not get Personal here.
I said I am a Constitutionaltist. Oh you must be from the far LEFT!
By Kids Granny signing off for the day.
I better get that Rum before its outlawed! ;~) Aarrggg

[12gage4granny]

Hay ... frantbk
AHoye... GREAT POST Nicely put, varry well written.

Well I got to get to work It's been fun Kids. Thanks for the post's
Any one got a bottel of Rum? Aaarrggg.

[buffalonyusa]

12gage4granny: dude, if you're the best the Repubs have to offer... Got a piece of advice for you: get a dictionary. Repubs don't believe in educating our children. That's why there are so many illiterates like you.

It's also why you can't get over your crackpot theories. President Obama was born here in Hawaii. Get over it.

[frantbk]

It seems like the U.S. is using laws enacted during the Regan administration to bring this person to the U.S. Also because the ship flies the American flag that is American soil (so to speak). Nothing was said in the news about a truce, nor any white flags being exchanged.

Is bring this person to the U.S. good for America - no, because once again the U.S. is falling into a trap of being the only nation changing International laws to suit the current governments view of action that this government deems necessary to placate the American people. If any court should be held, it should be at the international court in the Hague and this person should be held to international law. The majority of Americans will find no justice in the case against this person, and most will wonder why with this recession should we spend millions of dollars on this case when it will solve nothing and it will not meet the basic requirements of law - that its ruling will change the person[s] future conduct of criminal behavior.

[12gage4granny]

Give me a "B" movie actor any day!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AMEN Let 'shave church, I know a song ....
Let us gather at the river.... HANG EM HIGH
And was'nt that a B movie to with Clint Eastwood?
Any one got a bottel of rum? Aaarrrggg

[12gage4granny]

Why not have him at the white house we got a parot in there
Any one got a bottel of rum? or has that been outlawed yet?
ARRgggg let them swing....

[va1863]

Ron Kuby....get a grip!! Too bad he didn't attack a cruise ship with you on it, hold you hostage, threaten to kill you!! Better yet, he suceeded in doing so. You and your sorry profession are the sole reasons why criminals like this sorry excuse of human excrement still breathe. I recall a bumper sticker on a NJ Supreme Court Justice's car..First I'd Shoot All the Lawyers!!!. Now, he had it RIGHT!!! Could there be any connection that our society has crumbles in direct proportion to the number of "Lawyers" in Congress and the White House?? NOBAMA and his maiden are from this lot. Give me a "B" movie actor any day!!

[12gage4granny]

Posted by guyfrompa45
gophavelostagain - So anyone that is in a bad environment has the right to attack others for their own benefit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Havent you heard the new slogen theam song "Id like to spred the wealth"
from (Id like to teach the world to sing) the Coca-Cola song from the 70s. ;~)

[12gage4granny]

republican conspiracy theory ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Actuly I call my self a Constitionalist !
Please go to save our guns dot com but before you do PLEASE READ OUR CONSTITUTION.
notice I said PLEASE !

[Confidential416]

I'd like to wipe that stupid smile off his face. Personally, I think they should have thrown him in and let him swim.