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Bakamla repatriates two Batam fishermen arrested by Malaysian authorities
"They were found to have accidentally entered Malaysian waters because of ocean currents and winds," a Bakamla official said.
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A Maritime and Security Agency (Bakamla) high-speed craft travels in the waters of Tanjung Uncang in Batam, Riau Islands, on June 23, 2023.
(Kompas/Hadi Maulana)
T
wo fishermen from Batam, Riau Islands province, have been repatriated after being detained for a week by Malaysian authorities for trespassing into the country’s maritime territory.
Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) personnel aboard KN Dana 232 retrieved the two 25-year-old fishermen, Salam and Suhardi, in the waters near the Indonesia-Malaysia border on Wednesday.
The repatriation process was overseen by the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru, alongside officials from the Riau Islands Border Management Agency.
In addition to Salam and Suhardi, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) handed over the fishermen’s 30 gross tonne wooden boat to Indonesian authorities.
Suhardi said an APMM patrol ship had detained him and Salam on March 13 while they were fishing, stating that they had crossed into Malaysian waters.
"The Malaysian authorities treated us well, but now we just want to go home and reunite with our families," he said.
Bakamla Western Maritime Zone commander Cdre. Bambang Trijanto said both fishermen had completed the repatriation process in accordance with Malaysian law.
