By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, May 27: Twenty-four Vietnamese fishermen pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to entering Malaysian fisheries waters without permits.
Judge Mohd Taufik Mohd Yusoff fixed June 19 for pre-trial case management.
The accused were allegedly found onboard a foreign fishing vessel and engaging in fishing activities in Malaysian fisheries waters 71.5 nautical miles from Tanjung Po, Sarawak, and 33.1 nautical miles from the Malaysia-Indonesia international maritime border at about 5.01pm on May 11 this year.
They were charged under Subsection 24(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Paragraph 25(1) read together with Paragraph 52(1)(a) of the same Act.
Paragraph 25(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 carries a fine not exceeding RM1,000,000 each in the case of the owner or master and RM100,000 in the case of every member of the crew, if convicted.
Paragraph 52(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985, which in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, states that the vessel, vehicle, article or thing used in the commission of such offence or in relation to which such offence has been committed be forfeited, upon conviction.
DPP Ainy Suhailah Yunus prosecuted, while the fishermen were represented by counsel Charles M Sundram.
In the same courtroom, 5 Vietnamese fishermen also claimed trial to entering Malaysian fisheries waters without notifying the authority.
Sessions Court Judge Mohd Taufik Mohd Yusoff fixed June 19 for pre-trial case management.
The five of them were allegedly found on a foreign fishing vessel at 71.8 nautical miles from Tanjung Po and 33.3 nautical miles from the Malaysia-Indonesia international maritime border at 5.40pm on May 11, 2019.
They are accused under Subsection 16(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 for failing to notify by radio, telex or facsimile an authorised officer of the name, the flag, state, location, route and destination of the vessel and also the types and amount of fish it was carrying.
They were charged under subsection 16(3) of the Fisheries Act 1985 read together with subsection 24(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Paragraph 25(a) of the same Act.
DPP Ainy Suhailah Yunus prosecuted, while the five accused were represented by counsel Charles M Sundram. — DayakDaily
