Viet fishermen fined RM870,000
Published on: Thursday, September 01, 2022
By: Cynthia D Baga
The Vietnamese were arrested at 12.35pm on June 11, this year inside a foreign vessel at the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat area, for fishing in Malaysian waters without any permit from the Fisheries Department director-general.
Kota Kinabalu: Thirty-seven Vietnamese fishermen were fined a total of RM870,000 for illegal fishing in Malaysian waters.The skipper was fined RM150,000 or six months’ jail while the 36 crew members were ordered to pay RM20,000 fine or three months’ jail each.
ADVERTISEMENT
All of them pleaded guilty separately before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus, on Tuesday.
The Vietnamese were arrested at 12.35pm on June 11, this year inside a foreign vessel at the Tanjung Simpang Mengayau in Kudat area, for fishing in Malaysian waters without any permit from the Fisheries Department director-general.
The offence, under Section 15(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act read together under Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides for a fine of up to RM6 million for the skipper, and RM600,000 for each crew of the vessel, on conviction.
During mitigation, counsel Mohd Al-Hafiz Lokman who defended the Vietnamese, asked for leniency and the 37 to be deported to their hometown as soon as possible.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurun Nazifah Muhammad Iyen from Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on the grounds that the illegal fishing committed by foreign fishermen very rampant in the country especially in Sabah waters.
The court ordered for the vessel to be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Vietnamese were also ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department after paying their fines or serving their jail sentences.
Meanwhile, a 47-year-old gardener, charged with committing physical sexual harassment on an 11-year-old girl, will go trial on June 13-14, 2023.
Sessions Court Judge Azreena Aziz set the date for Nahum Kurian when his case was brought up for mention.
He is accused of committing the offence by hugging the girl and fondling her breasts at 11.30am on Feb 26, 2021 in front of a staircase near a coffee shop in Sipitang.
All documents have been served.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
