Record ransom paid for release of Samho Dream

Dubai: Somali pirates said on Saturday they had received a record ransom of $9.5m for the release of Samho Dream, a South Korean tanker they hijacked in the Indian Ocean in early April this year, Reuters has reported. The VLCC Samho Dream was carrying some $170m worth of crude oil from Iraq to the US when it was hijacked and its crew of five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos taken hostage. The pirates are believed to have originally demanded $20m.
Separately, nearly $2.8m is reported to have been paid for the release of Singapore-flagged Golden Blessing manned by 23 Chinese crew. [06/11/10]