Five Somali nationals who are on trial in the Netherlands for piracy in the Gulf of Aden should be jailed for between seven and 10 years, the public prosecution department said on Wednesday.

The five took over a South African yacht and held three people hostage last November. One was rescued but the other two, a couple from Durban, are still missing. Associates of the pirates who were arrested have demanded a multi-million euro ransom for their release.
The trial is taking place in the Netherlands because the pirates were picked up by a Dutch navy vessel. Of the 20 suspects who were arrested, 15 were later freed.
According to Nos radio, South Africa refused to cooperate with Dutch demands that it take over the prosecution.