A Somali pirate who was apprehended during a deadly high seas rescue operation that centred on a hijacked US containership last April has been sentenced to nearly 34 years in prison.
The ruling came despite the defendant’s request for leniency due to his young age.
Muse was also sentenced for his role in the taking of two other vessels in late March and early April of 2009, which also involved hostages.
Muse's lawyers have argued that he was in his early teens when the crimes took place but the judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence of Muse being at least 18, which meant he could be tried as an adult.
According to media reports, the pirate was dressed in a green T-shirt and khaki trousers when he told the court: "I am very sorry and ask for forgiveness."
Commenting on the ruling, FBI director Janice Fedarcyk said: "The stiff sentence handed down today sends a clear message to others who would interfere with American vessels or do harm to Americans on the high seas: Whatever seas you ply, you are not beyond the reach of American justice."
As TradeWinds has reported, Muse avoided a life sentence when he pleaded guilty to piracy charges last year.
The case involved the notorious hijacking of the 1,098-teu Maersk Alabama(built 1998) off the Horn of Africa.
The US-flagged boxship was stormed by pirates off Somalia in April 2009 before its master Richard Phillips was taken hostage in one of its lifeboats.
US marines stepped in a few days later and shot dead three of the four pirates, arresting the fourth and freeing Phillips.
Muse was the only survivor among the men who hijacked the US-flagged boxship and was kept in solitary confinement while awaiting trial, according to defense attorney Fiona Doherty.
The lawyer told the court that Muse tried to commit suicide on at least two occasions during his incarceration.
