By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, June 10: The Sessions Court here sentenced a fishing vessel master to a fine of RM10,000 and five other crew members to a fine of RM7,000 each for entering Malaysian fishing waters without notifying the authorities.
Tran Ngoan, Duong Nua, Vo Vao, Buoi Sang, Tran Ty, VI Thanh pleaded guilty to the charge framed under subsection 16(3) of the Fisheries Act 1985.
Sessions Court Judge Maris Agan sentenced the master of the fishing vessel, Tran Ngoan, to a fine of RM10,000 or in default of three months’ imprisonment, and sentenced five other crew members to a fine of RM7,000 respectively or in default of three months’ imprisonment.
They were charged with being on a foreign fishing vessel at a distance of 100.2 nautical miles from Tanjung Po, in Malaysian fishing waters for the purpose under subsection 16(1) of the Fisheries At 1985 and failed to notify by radio, telex or facsimile to the authority, the flag state, location, route and destination of the vessel, the type and amount of fish it is carrying and of the circumstances that the vessel is entering Malaysian waters.
They were charged under subsection 16(3) of the Fisheries Act 1985 which is read together with the subsection 24 of the same Act and punishable under Paragraph 25(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985.
Paragraph 25(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 carries a fine not exceeding RM6,000,000 each in the case of the owner or master and RM600,000 in the case of every member of the crew, upon conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Yong Ann Nee prosecuted while all six accused were represented by counsel Andin Linton who stood in for Rambir Singh. — DayakDaily
