MOMBASA, Kenya, March 10 (Xinhua) -- German Navy on Tuesday handed over nine more suspected Somali pirates to Kenyan police for trial, five days after seven others were brought into the country by the United States.

    Kenyan marine police commandant Stanley Lemai said the suspects were arrested on March 3 in the Gulf of Aden by the German Navy as they attacked a ship MV Courier owned by a company based in Germany.

    "The suspects were caught in the act by security agents patrolling the Indian Ocean and arrested. They were in possession of dangerous weapons including rifles and rocket propelled grenades," Lemai said.

    The handing over of the suspects brings to 33 the total number of Somali nationals in Mombasa either in jail or being tried for crimes relating to piracy.

    The European Union last Friday signed an agreement with Kenya providing for the handover of pirates seized off Somali waters fortrial in the country, three days after the nine suspects were seized. The United States entered into such agreement with Kenya in January.

    As the suspects, brought aboard a German Navy warship Frigate Rheinland Pfalz -- were led into the port police cells, they joked to each other and laughed, and looked healthy.

    The arrival of the ship was witnessed by senior port police officers and covered by a battery of local and international journalists, with German Navy officers dishing out brochures detailing the vessel's history, the number of crew members on board and artillery capabilities.

    Lemai said the suspects would probably be arraigned in court on either Tuesday or Wednesday after a charge sheet had been prepared.

    "The suspects cannot speak English and there are procedures to be followed as we carry out investigations," he added.

    Last week, seven suspects were handed over by U.S. Navy after 22 days since they were arrested on February 11. Dressed in orange overalls and bare feet, the suspects who looked frail and tired were under tight guard.

    Currently there are nine pirates serving a seven year sentence at the Shimo La Tewa prison and who have filed an appeal at the high court, while eight others arrested late last year are being tried for the crime at a Mombasa court.

    Although there has been constitutional issues raised in regard to pirates being tried in the country, there is a provision in the Kenyan constitution which allows trial for international sea crimes.

    The section under which suspected pirates are charged in the country is contained in section 69 (1) as read with section 69 (3)of the penal code.

    After increased piracy activities in the Indian Ocean off Somali waters, the international community responded by deploying allied security forces in the area to cub hijackings of commercial ships.