US court in Chicago: Somali pirate can’t withdraw plea

Friday February 26, 2016

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A U.S. appeals court in Chicago says a Somali man convicted for an act of piracy that inspired a Hollywood movie can’t withdraw his guilty plea.

The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (http://bit.ly/1OyB3Bh) reports the court ruled Abduwali Abdukhadir (AB’-dohk-ha-dir) Muse is bound by a plea deal that says he won’t challenge his plea based on disputes over his age. Navy snipers killed the other pirates.

The movie “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks, depicts the 2009 hijacking of the Maersk Alabama.

A lower court judge determined Muse was at least 18 during the hijacking, so he was prosecuted as an adult. Muse claimed he’d been 16.

He was sentenced to around 33 years. He’s incarcerated at federal prison in Indiana.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled earlier this week.

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