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Singaporean captain cleared of illegal fishing, trespassing charges
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Singaporean Captain Choo Chiau Huat (right) sitting next to a translator during a hearing at the Tanjung Pinang Fisheries Court.
(The Strait Times/Photo courtesy of Herman Black)
T
he Tanjung Pinang Fisheries Court in Riau Islands has cleared Singaporean captain Choo Chiau Huat, 50, of charges of illegal fishing and trespassing.
"His misconduct was not proven and we declare him not guilty," presiding judge Jhonson Erson Fredy Sirait read out the verdict to the court on Monday.
Prosecutors had sought two years of imprisonment and a fine of Rp 1.5 billion (US$114,242) for Choo over what they claimed constituted trespassing into Indonesian waters and illegal fishing.
Choo's defense welcomed the verdict, with lawyer Herman Black telling The Jakarta Post after the hearing that he had been convinced from the very beginning that there was a lack of evidence. Choo would be handed over to the Immigration detention center to be deported back to his home country of Singapore, with the boat also to be returned, he added.
Meanwhile, prosecutor Yuri Prasetyo expressed his disappointment over the verdict and announced plans to lodge an appeal. He said it was the first fisheries case acquitted by the court amid Indonesia's commitment to eradicate illegal fishing in its waters and the government's stern message of sinking foreign vessels.
Yuri said he expected the panel of judges not to immediately release Choo, as his absence would hamper the ongoing legal process.
"He will not be deported just yet, let us see the results [of the appeal]," he added.
Choo captained the MV Selin carrying 13 Singaporean and Malaysian tourists for a fishing trip on April 16 until the vessel was stopped by an Indonesian Navy patrol for allegedly trespassing into Bintan waters of Riau Island. (rin)
