Russian sailor escapes jail for hijacking boat to buy booze

A Russian sailor who, in a state of alcoholic intoxication, used a boat without permission to go to get some booze received a three and a half year suspended sentence on Monday.

The sailor took the Belomorye-class riverboat in September 2009 without permission from either the ship’s captain or the Archangelsk port authority. He lost control of the 100-meter-long boat and collided with another vessel.

No injuries or damage were reported at the time.

The Archangelsk City Court found the sailor guilty of hijacking a ship under an article of the Criminal Code that carries a penalty of up to eight years in prison.

However, the court took into account the fact that the sailor had turned himself in to police, had repented his act and also that he had a young child, and gave him a three and a half year suspended sentence.

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