Tried Innocently, 2 Batam Fishermen Arrested By Malaysian Officials Picked Up By Bakamla Kepri

The Head of the West Bakamla Zone, First Admiral Bambang Trijanto, together with the Head of the Riau Islands BP2D, Doli Boniara, accompanied two Batam fishermen after being handed over from APM Malaysia at the Indonesia-Malaysia-Singapore border Wednesday (19/3/2025). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Indonesian law enforcers picked up Salam (25) and Suhardi (25), two fishermen from Bengkong, Batam who were arrested and then released by the Malaysian Maritime Power Strengthening Agency (APMM). Both were arrested for violating regional boundaries.

Pick-up was carried out by the Riau Islands Provincial Government (Kepri) together with Bakamla using the State Ship (KN) of Nipah Island-321 to the pick-up point promised on Wednesday, March 19 afternoon. When repatriated, the two fishermen wore white shirts.

The head of the West Bakamla Zone, First Admiral Bambang Trijanto, said the two fishermen were arrested on March 12, not having time to be detained because the results of the trial stated that they were innocent and could be returned to their country along with their ships.

"The process (return) was so fast because there was good cooperation between the Consul General, APMM and the good Bakamla and APMM relations and supported by the Riau Islands Provincial Government," said Bambang in Riau Islands, Wednesday, March 19, as reported by Antara.

The one-star general said that after being picked up, the two fishermen would be handed over to the Riau Islands Provincial Government for further return to their families.

"Today, these two fishermen will be returned and returned to their families after we from Bakamla handed over to the Riau Islands Provincial Government at Batu Ampar Pier represented by the Deputy Governor," said Bambang.

Head of the Regional Border Management Agency (BP2D) of Riau Islands Province, Doli Boniara, who was included in the pick-up, added that this was the second pick-up in 2025. A total of 3 fishermen have been sent home.

"Yesterday, a fisherman from Karimun was also sent home, arrested without a detention process, today two more fishermen have been sent home," said Doli.

Doli conveyed that the fishermen were arrested because the fishermen were carried away by the current and unknowingly went to sea to take fish in the Malaysian border area.

"So the Riau Islands Province is bordered by several of our friendly countries and of course the Deputy Governor will accept it directly and will pick up Riau Islands residents," he said.

Until this news was revealed, KN Nipah Island-321 on its way home to Batu Ampar Harbor, the two fishermen using their boats followed from behind.