Kota Kinabalu: Two Filipinos were jailed 10 months each for having eight bombed fish.
Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence to Matsahirin Ambal, 50, and Mazlan Marapti, 29, after they pleaded guilty separately, Wednesday.
The Filipinos were found having the fish which were caught with explosives inside a pump boat at 9.30am on April 3 at the Pulau Malawali waters in Kudat.
They were jointly charged under Section 26(1)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(b) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the
Penal Code, which provides for a fine of up to RM20,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or both, on conviction.
During mitigation, the duo asked for leniency saying that they have families to look after.
Matsahirin informed the court that he has four children and wife, adding that the boat belonged to his father in-law.
Meanwhile, Mazlan said he has two children and a wife who is currently pregnant.
However, Prosecuting Officer William Apin from the Fisheries Department urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence as the fish bombing activity could affect the habitat and ecosystem of the sea.
The court heard that Maritime enforcement team conducting Op Taring Gelora had stopped a suspicious pump boat.
Inspection found there were two people later, identified as Matsahirin and Mazlan, on the boat with fish caught using explosives.
The fish sample was sent to the Fisheries Department for autopsy which confirmed that it was caught using explosives.
After completing the jail sentence, the Filipinos were ordered referred to the Immigration Department for deportation.
The court also ordered the vessel and all equipment seized to be forfeited to the Government of Malaysia.
