Mogadishu Impounding
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Join Date: May 2011
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They are perpetuating and exacerbating a crippling international menace by doing this. Flying those volumes of cash around will get you arrested for currency smuggling anywhere in the civilised world, so what if Somalia joins the club too? Can we do as we please there just because the place is a basket case?
Sure, things went wrong this time; but I can hardly blame the aircrew for this. They were doing this because no one else was doing anything.
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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We've got two threads on the same subject, so at the risk of repeating myself...
The Transitional Govt of Somalia has sentenced the pilots to US$10,000 each and ten years in prison, and the ransom cash handlers to US$15,000 fine and 15 years in prison. However, there's also strong speculation that with more negotiation the prison sentences might be waived in exchange for a larger fine. I sincerely hope so!! I would not wish that sentence on anyone. There are few places in this world worse to be than in a prison in Mogadishu. However rumours are that they are actually being held in the UN camp as there isn't really a functioning prison (whatever that is) in Mog.
Ransom handlers were Andrew Oakes and Alex James. Crew was Matt Brown, Potgeiter Jnr and Alaster Davidson(?) and Rob Andrews son went along as security apparently.
Ransom money and aircraft have been confiscated by the Somali Govt too!! Ouch!
The Transitional Govt of Somalia has sentenced the pilots to US$10,000 each and ten years in prison, and the ransom cash handlers to US$15,000 fine and 15 years in prison. However, there's also strong speculation that with more negotiation the prison sentences might be waived in exchange for a larger fine. I sincerely hope so!! I would not wish that sentence on anyone. There are few places in this world worse to be than in a prison in Mogadishu. However rumours are that they are actually being held in the UN camp as there isn't really a functioning prison (whatever that is) in Mog.
Ransom handlers were Andrew Oakes and Alex James. Crew was Matt Brown, Potgeiter Jnr and Alaster Davidson(?) and Rob Andrews son went along as security apparently.
Ransom money and aircraft have been confiscated by the Somali Govt too!! Ouch!
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Or, as a friend of mine puts it:
<<A horrid sort of "Alice in Wonderland' world awaits those who overstep the invisible boundaries in places where there is no Rule of Law, in Somalia, Sudan & places to numerous to type here.....very close to home......>>
<<A horrid sort of "Alice in Wonderland' world awaits those who overstep the invisible boundaries in places where there is no Rule of Law, in Somalia, Sudan & places to numerous to type here.....very close to home......>>
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One, Somalia isn't by most definitions "a civilized world" What better options do you propose to free the ship crews
Better options? Blindingly obvious isn't it? A vigorous application of Rule .303 both on and offshore to eradicate as many of the perpetrators as possible and NO MORE RANSOMS. You don't hope to save the body by refusing to amputate a gangrenous leg just because it will hurt do you? Its exactly the same principle.
The Somalis are laughing themselves sick at the spineless, cowardly and pathetic behaviour of the Western "Governments" over this and won't stop until one or both of the above measures are taken. Why would they when we are providing $Millions of free cash to any fisherman with an old RPG and a dozen mates with rusty rifles?
And puhleese, don't post bleeding-heart crap about what would I think if it were one of my loved ones. That's detail, we need to deal with the big picture and that will hurt some individuals. Omelettes and breaking eggs. We need to grow up fast rejoin the real world before the gangrene gets so deep it can't be cut out...
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I expect their reaction will be the same as mine in 1973.......Somali Embassy chartered our Navajo (and me ) to fly Coke and Fanta concentrate ( whatever turns you on ) to Mog because it was Independence Day anniversary next day , Ambassador himself came to Wilson , told me ' clearance ' number , and off I went . Large committee to meet me , firstly customs and Coke reps , then the Army / Cops who thought my clearance was a joke and arrested me ! Strange that they were all desperate for me to get there and were waiting . 3 days house arrest in hotel before release .
Landed Wilson , told Chief Pilot I would not ever be going back to Somalia thank you very much . The Somali Ambassador had a lot of trouble finding a charter company after that - but there is always someone prepared to sell their soul eh !
Now it is big bucks talking ......the ransom money is mostly being invested in Kenya , hence the lunatic property prices now , changed my retirement plans I can tell you.
Landed Wilson , told Chief Pilot I would not ever be going back to Somalia thank you very much . The Somali Ambassador had a lot of trouble finding a charter company after that - but there is always someone prepared to sell their soul eh !
Now it is big bucks talking ......the ransom money is mostly being invested in Kenya , hence the lunatic property prices now , changed my retirement plans I can tell you.
