Japan Times reports today that an 18-year-old pirate has been sentenced to serve between 5 and 9 years by the Tokyo District Court, following his capture during an attempt to hijack an oil tanker owned by Mistui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. in March 2011. 
Despite claiming that he was only there to assist three others, the presiding judge ruled that the teenager was a “full accomplice” and, because he was the only English speaker in the gang, was supposed to play a much larger role had the hijacking been completely successful.
