Kota Kinabalu: Fifteen Vietnamese were charged with illegal fishing.
The first group comprised skipper Do Binh Thanh and crew Danh Thanh Hoai, Ngu Yen Van Giang, Nguyen Van So, Tan Hung Xia, Do Bin Tung and Ngo Tuan Dat.
The second group included skipper Tian Van Thom and crews Vien Van Yem, Nguyen Thinh Chung, Phung Thanh Nhan, Ly Chi Sung, Nguyen Trieu Tuan, Hua Ngoc Dau and Tran Quoc Dung.
However, no plea was taken from the Vietnamese who were brought before Sessions Court Judge Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim on Friday.
Their plea would not be taken on July 16 and all the Vietnamese were ordered remanded further pending the date.
The first group was accused of fishing at the Malaysian waters without any permit from the Malaysia Fisheries Director-General at 6.40am on May 24 this year inside a foreign vessel at Pulau Straggler Kudat.
For the second group, the eight Vietnamese allegedly committed a similar offence at 6.10am on the same day and place.
The offence, under Section 15(1) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act, was read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM6 million for the vessel skipper and RM600,000 for each crew of the vessel, on conviction.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Nurun Nazifah Muhammad Iyen from the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency appeared for the prosecution while the Vietnamese were not represented.
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