A Mumbai Sessions Court on Monday convicted all 35 Somali nationals arrested in the MV Ruen piracy case and sentenced them to life imprisonment, bringing one of India’s biggest maritime piracy prosecutions to a close.

The accused had earlier pleaded guilty, telling the court through a Somali interpreter that they had done so voluntarily and understood the legal consequences. Before accepting the plea, the judge questioned each accused individually to ensure there had been no coercion.