NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Somali ambassador to the United Nations says a Somali man charged with piracy should be tried in Somalia instead of the United States.
Elmi Ahmed Duale made the comments to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Duale had been subpoenaed to appear at an evidentiary hearing on Thursday for Mohammad Saaili Shibin. Shibin is charged in connection with the hijacking of a German merchant ship and the Quest, a U.S. yacht in which all four Americans on board were killed.
Shibin attorney James Broccoletti said the State Department informed him that Duale invoked diplomatic immunity not to attend. Duale told the AP he’s too busy to make the appearance.
Broccoletti contends the charges against Shibin should be dismissed because the U.S. lacks the jurisdiction to try him.
