Kota Kinabalu: Seven Vietnamese were fined RM100,000 or four months’ jail each for using a fishing vessel with unidentified registration numbers.
They were Nguyen Dung, Nguyen Duy Thuong, Nguyen Duc Chau, Tran Van Tuan, To Ngoc Bien, Pham Quoc Du and Nguyen Van Sa.
All of them pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus.
The Vietnamese had used the fishing vessel that displayed unidentified registration numbers at 8.30am on Dec 2, 2021 at Pulau Gaya, here.
The offence under Section 14(3)(b) of the Fisheries Act 1985 (Act 317) and punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM6 million for the skipper and RM600,000 for the crew, on conviction.
After paying their fine or serving the jail sentence, the court ordered the Vietnamese to be referred to the Immigration Department.
The court ordered the vessel and all equipment to be confiscated by the Government of Malaysia.
During mitigation, the Vietnamese asked for leniency and to be deported to their country as soon as possible.
However, the prosecution urged the court to impose an adequate sentence.
