VOA慢速英语 美国控告被指控索马里劫持者

　　美国控告被指控索马里劫持者

　　This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

　　American government lawyers this week brought criminal charges against a young Somali man in connection with a ship hijacking earlier this month. They say Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse is the only survivor of a hijacking attempt on an American ship off the coast of Somalia on April eighth.

　　The capture of the Maersk Alabama made news around the world. The four pirates released the ship and its crew. But they took the ship's captain hostage in a small boat. Four days later, American Navy forces killed three of the hijackers and rescued the captain, Richard Phillips.

　　Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse was flown from Africa to New York City, where he was charged Tuesday with five crimes, including piracy and hostage-taking. A New York federal court judge has ruled that Mister Muse is at least eighteen years old and can be tried as an adult. But his mother has said he is just sixteen years old. That could create a problem for government lawyers seeking the most severe punishment for the accused – spending the rest of his life in prison. International law has less severe punishments for criminals under the age of eighteen.

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