Kota Kinabalu: Eight Vietnamese were fined a total of RM1.5 million for fishing illegally in Malaysian waters.
They were skipper Duong Van Phong, 34, crew members Phan Van Thuan, 42, Nguyen Guang Linh Vu, 51, Chai Hoai Thanh, 26, Nguyen Van Trinh, 36, Ha Trong Luan, 37, Ngo Van Doan, 41, and Nguyen Vanh Thuan, 35.
All of them pleaded guilty separately before Sessions Court judge Elsie Primus, Monday), after the charge against them was read by a Vietnamese interpreter.
The skipper was fined RM800,000 in default eight months’ jail, while the crews were ordered to pay RM100,000 or spend six months in prison each.
The Vietnamese were found fishing illegally at 9.20am on April 2, this year on a Vietnam fishing vessel at Pulau Kankamat.
The offence under Section 15(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985, punishable under Section 25(a) of the same Act and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, provides for a fine of up to RM6 million for the boat skipper and RM600,000 for each crew member, on conviction.
During mitigation, all of the Vietnamese who were not represented asked for a minimum sentence, saying they have families to look after and that they wanted to return to their country as soon as possible.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Risal Abd Fikkah urged the court to impose an adequate sentence on them on the grounds that their act could affect our sea habitat and ecosystem.
The court ordered the vessel, including equipment, to be forfeited to the Government.
The Vietnamese were also ordered to be referred to the Immigration Department after paying the fine or serving jail sentence.
