2 Malaysian -Fired Foreign Fishing Vessels Burned In The Ocean

BANDA ACEH - The Banda Aceh District Prosecutor's Office destroyed two foreign wooden fishing boats as evidence of a case of illegal fishing with a Thai citizen convicted.

The destruction of the ship was centered at the Samudra Lampulo Fishing Port in Banda Aceh. The two ships were destroyed by burning.

Apart from the ship, the AGO also destroyed supporting equipment for illegal fishing in the form of communication tools and GPS or positioning tools and nets.

The equipment was destroyed by cutting it into two parts which was centered at the Ulee Lheue Ferry Terminal, Banda Aceh. Meanwhile, the nets are destroyed by burning.

"The evidence for the destruction of the two wooden ships and their equipment is that the case has passed or has permanent legal force," said Banda Aceh District Attorney Head Edi Ermawan as quoted by Antara, Thursday, March 18.

Edi Ermawan said the two ships were KHF 2598, weighing 64.19 gross tons (GT) and KHF 1980 GT 63.74. The two fishing vessels have Malaysian flags.

"The destruction of the two ships is based on the decision of the Banda Aceh District Court which already has a permanent sentence or increment. The two ships with their Thai national crew and ship captain have been found guilty," said Edi Ermawan.

The two Malaysian-flagged fishing vessels were arrested by the supervisory vessel of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Shark 012 for fishing illegally in the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ, the waters of the Malacca Strait on February 2, 2019.

When arrested, KKP Hiu 012 surveillance vessel officers secured a skipper and four crew members, all of whom were Thai citizens, from the KHF 2598 ship.

Likewise on the KM KHF 2598 ship, officers also secured a skipper and four crew members, all of whom were Thai citizens.