JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy has denied asking for a bribe of US$375,000 or equivalent to Rp5.4 billion to release the Panama-flagged MT Nord Joy which was arrested in Indonesian waters for anchoring without permission.
"I need to convey that there is news that says that a Navy officer who asked for funds of 375 thousand US dollars is not true. Because it needs to be known that whether to release or not, as long as this ship is still under the Navy, the decision rests with me as a member of the Navy. Commander of the Armed Forces I," said Commander of the Armed Forces I (Pangkoarmada I) Rear Admiral TNI Arsyad Abdullah when inspecting the tanker in Batam, Riau Islands, Friday, June 10, quoted from Antara.
Once again, Arsyad emphasized that there were no reports regarding the allegations. The report he received from investigators stated that the ship was sufficient evidence to be processed legally.
However, if there are parties who know for sure that there is an attempt to negotiate by asking for a sum of money to free the ship, he hopes that the party can report it to the Indonesian Navy.
"Of course, if it is found that the Navy officers have been proven to have done this, then the Navy will carry out legal processes in accordance with applicable regulations," said Arsyad.
The captain of the MT Nord Joy Vivek Kumar (44) who was still on the ship also denied the request for money.
"I do not know the information, later representatives from our office in Singapore will explain to the media," he said.
It was reported that the Panamanian-flagged MT Nord Joy was arrested by the Indonesian Navy while on patrol in the waters northeast of Tanjung Berakit some time ago.
From the results of the inspection, this ship committed a violation in the form of anchoring in Indonesian territorial waters without permission from the local port authority.
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