Fishbomber, 16, is blown to bits in Gaya
Published on: Sunday, March 24, 2019
By: Sherell Jeffrey
KOTA KINABALU: A 16-year-old lost his life while blast fishing off Pulau Gaya, here, Friday. Marine police together with Fire and Rescue personnel assisted in retrieving the boy’s dismembered body after being alerted at about 10.37am (pic).
Police identified the deceased as a Palauh, residing in Kampung Pondo where he worked as a fisherman. No documents were found on him.
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An explosion was initially heard by a maritime officer who was about to dock on the island’s coast at about 10am, according to City Police Chief ACP Habibi Majinji, Saturday.
About 30 minutes upon landing, the officer saw a tearful five-year-old who claimed that his friend (victim) was about to throw the explosive when it exploded.
The youngster then directed the officer to the spot where his friend’s body was, prompting the officer to call for assistance via MERS 999. The impact was so strong that it also left the victim’s sampan (small boat) in shatters.
Criminal elements have been ruled out by police who have classified the case as sudden death.
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Fish bombing activities are not uncommon in waters off Sabah despite warnings and campaigns and there have been cases even in the interior.
Last year, a local was killed while his friend seriously injured after a fish bomb exploded at Kg Lotong, in Tambunan. Also last year, a 61-year-old was jailed a year and fined RM20,000 in default six months’ jail for having 14 bombed fish off Kudat waters.
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In KUDAT, Marine police arrested a local and seized 670kg of fish believed caught by using explosives off Tiga Papan, Friday (pic below).
Marine Police Sabah Region 4 Commander ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali said police detained the 38-year-old man at about 4pm after receiving information from the Marine Intelligence Unit.
“During inspection, marine police found the fish of various types estimated at RM8,710,” he said in a statement.
According to Pajeri, the man allegedly committed an offence under Section 26(1) (c) of the Fisheries Act 1985.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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