Global General

Malaysia detains 41 fishermen from Indonesia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-27 14:45

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The Malaysian navy has held 41 fishermen, who were on board the fishing boat that was said to have encroached into the Malaysian waters Tuesday night, local newspaper Sin Chew Daily reported on Thursday.

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An officer from the Malaysian maritime enforcement unit said the boat, originated from the Sumatera island in Western Indonesia, was detained about 25 nautical miles northwest of the island, according to the newspaper.

The daily quoted the officer as saying that the Malaysian navy had interrogated the fishermen on the boat, finding them entering the Malaysian waters without permission.

The officer added that the fishermen, including the skipper, had also failed to produce any identification documents when being inspected.

Under the Malaysian law, the skipper faces a maximum fine of 1 million ringgit ($327,869), while the rest a fine not exceeding 100,000 ringgit.