MANHATTAN (CN) - A Somali pirate pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of hijacking, kidnapping and hostage-taking. Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse pleaded guilty to 5 of 10 counts in the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama container ship in the Indian Ocean in April 2009. The ship's captain was taken hostage.
Muse admitted he led three other pirates in the 5-day Maersk Alabama hijacking and had seized two other ships in March and April, according to the plea agreement.
The U.S. Navy took Muse into custody when Muse thought he was negotiating the release of the captain.
Muse faces up to 33 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his Oct. 19 sentencing.
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