Malaysia extends detention of Somali pirates

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities have extended by six days a detention order against seven Somali pirates captured by Malaysian forces last month in a raid to free a hijacked oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

A police spokesman told AFP that investigators need more time to complete their probe into the case.

The seven have been held on remand in Malaysia since January 31 when they arrived on board the tanker MT Bunga Laurel, which was seized by pirates along with its crew of 23 on January 20.

The tanker was headed to Singapore with a cargo of lubricating oil worth more than $10 million when high-seas bandits armed with AK-47 assault rifles boarded and took control of the ship.

Malaysian naval commandos from a vessel protecting shipping in the Gulf of Aden, along with a navy attack helicopter, responded to a distress call and captured the pirates after a brief firefight.

A day later, South Korean forces captured another five pirates in a separate raid.

Malaysia and South Korea could become the first Asian nations to prosecute Somali pirates.

ORIGINAL SOURCE