Malaysian Court Acquit Eight Natuna Fishers as Unauthorized Entry Allegation Unproven

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Malaysian authorities release eight Indonesian fishers in Natuna over a lack of strong evidence for unauthorized entry to Malaysian territories while sailing.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching said the court decided to acquit the eight fishermen after the Malaysian Maritime Strengthening Agency (APMM) dropped its charges against them. "Because there was no strong evidence,” said Raden Sigit Witjaksono, Indonesian Consul General in Kuching in a press release received by Tempo, Wednesday, July 17, 2024.

The detained fishermen were ZK (37), FJ (22), and RZ (24), boarding a green boat, a red boat consisting of three fishers with the initials DK (41), UJ (62), and SD (39), and a white boat consisting of two fishers with the initials ST (44) and RN (26). 

"The fishers will be sent home along with their confiscated boat and belongings," said Sigit.

As previously reported, APMM arrested the eight fishermen on April 19, 2024, in the waters near Sarawak on account of illegal fishing activities in Malaysian waters. "However, because there was no evidence of caught fish in their boat, the charge was later changed to unauthorized entry to Malaysian waters," he said.

After the incident, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries sent a letter to Malaysian authorities emphasizing that the eight fishers were still in Indonesian waters.

YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA

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