Bite Voyage: Travel, Food & Vibes

Somali Pirate Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse Sentenced in New York to Nearly 34 Years Federal Judge Loretta Preska: “General deterrence in this kind of crime.” — Sentence: 33 years 9 months (February 16, 2011, New York) NEW YORK, (AFP) — A teenaged Somali pirate captured during the 2009 Maersk Alabama hostage crisis received a near-34-year sentence in U.S. federal court. Prosecutors portrayed Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse as a hardened leader who terrorized the crew and even staged a mock execution of Captain Richard Phillips. Judge Loretta Preska emphasized the need for deterrence across the world’s sea lanes. Background: The 2009 Maersk Alabama Standoff The incident unfolded when Somali pirates boarded the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama off the Horn of Africa. After a tense standoff with a U.S. Navy vessel, the pirates retreated to a lifeboat with Captain Phillips as a hostage. Muse boarded the Navy ship to negotiate and was arrested; Navy s...