A SENIOR CPS prosecutor said there is no evidence that an attempt was made to hijack or endanger an oil tanker during an incident off the Isle of Wight in October. The statement by Joanne Jakymec, chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Wessex, comes after the Home Office criticised a decision to drop the prosecution against seven Nigerian men detained aboard the Nave Andromeda by British special forces. Two men Matthew John Okorie, 25, and Sunday Sylvester, 22 had been charged with an offence relating to conduct endangering ships under Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, but their charges have now been dropped.
UK Police Say 7 Nigerians Arrested on Oil Tanker to ‘Face No Further Action’
Seven stowaways detained in October during a security incident on an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight will now “face no further action,” UK police said on Friday.
The men, who are all Nigerian nationals, were detained on Oct. 25 when British military personnel seized control of the Liberia-flagged tanker “Nave Andromeda,” after concerns were raised to police regarding the welfare of crew members.
7 men, inc 2 men who had previously been charged, will now face no further action as part of the investigation into the maritime security incident on board the Nave Andromeda off the #IsleOfWight in Oct. Read more: https://t.co/D9Hjn5IAbKpic.twitter.com/lzLQOLfCio
Seven men including two who appeared in court will face no further action
It follows suspected hijacking of an oil tanker off Isle of Wight last October
Police say all seven men will remain detained under immigration powers
Matthew John Okorie, 25, and Sunday Sylvester, 22, due to appear in court
But they will face no further action along with five others who were arrested
Home Office says Britons will struggle to understand how this can be the case