A Somali pirate from Minneapolis has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in holding an American journalist hostage. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Abdi Yusuf Hassan, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and Mohamed Tahlil Mohamed from Somalia were convicted of hostage-taking, terrorism, and firearm offenses related to the captivity of freelance journalist Michael Scott Moore.
Michael Scott Moore was held for 977 days before being released in 2014 after a ransom was paid. According to the DOJ, Hassan played a significant role in Moore's captivity and was involved in ransom negotiations. He served as the Minister of Interior Galmudug province in Somalia, responsible for police and security forces, while Mohamed was an officer in the Somali army.
The DOJ press release said that Hassan and Mohamed abused their positions within the Somali government during Moore's captivity. They kept him under armed guard and moved him between various locations, including a hijacked ship with other crew members from Vietnam, China, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams commented on the case: "For nearly three years, Michael Scott Moore was held hostage in Somalia by pirates. He was beaten, chained to the floor, and threatened with assault rifles and machine guns. Hassan and Mohamed were key players in that hostage-taking."
The sentencing follows a three-week trial earlier this year where both men were found guilty by a federal jury.
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