The six men were accused of hijacking a France-owned vessel off the coast of Aden in 2008 and were captured by France navy forces after raiding their boat in the eastern coast of Somalia.

One of the six has confessed his pirate ties while two claimed to be small business owners who were on board the boat to sell goods to the pirates, the rest have denied the accusations against them.

If found guilty, they will likely face life in prison.

At least 20 Somali pirates are currently held in French prisons; it was only last year when a Paris court convicted 5 Somali nationals who are now serving various prison terms in there.