27 Vietnamese fishermen charged with illegal fishing

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KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-seven Vietnamese fishermen were charged with illegal fishing in the Malaysian waters by using two fishing vessels bearing the registration numbers of other boats.

All of them, aged between 15 and 47 years old, denied the respective charges under Section 14 (3)(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act before Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed when it was read out to them yesterday.

The charge is punishable with a fine of up to RM1 million for the skipper, and up to RM100,000 for each crew, upon conviction.

All the 27 fishermen were alleged to have used two vessels bearing numbers SBF27 and SBF28, which were the registration numbers of other vessels in the waters off Mengalum Island at 1.30 pm on September 4, and carrying fishing activities without valid permits at the same place and time. The offence was framed under Section 15(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act.

In view of their plea, the court fixed October 12 this year for pre-trial case management and ordered the Vietnamese men to be remanded further.

Nurun Nazifah Mohd Iyen from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) appeared for the prosecution while the accused persons were represented by counsel Hamida Ambo.