The Indonesians were identified only as A, 40, U, 44 and M, 45. A was shot dead by APMM officers during a resistance.

Anang Fauzi Firdaus, consul for information, social and cultural affairs at the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Johor Bahru, said the KJRI had received information about the incident.

“The KJRI in Johor Bahru has coordinated with the APMM and requested consular access for follow-up assistance in handling the dead body of the Indonesian citizen,” Anang told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Anang said A’s family had contacted the KJRI and asked when the body could be sent home. “It is the decision of the family whether the body is to be sent home or buried here,” he said.

Anang added that U and M were still being detained by the APMM for further investigation.

According to the APMM, Anang said, the incident took place in the waters of Tanjung Kelisa in Johor at 4:30 a.m. local time, when APMM officers were conducting inspections of boats.

However, he said, the alleged smugglers tried to escape. They resisted and tried to seize weapons from APMM officers, before security members opened fire and shot one of the alleged smugglers.

Authorities secured some evidence including 90 plastic boxes containing magpies, the smugglers’ black fiber jet boat and four Yamaha 200HP engines.

The case would be investigated under Malaysia’s 2010 Wildlife Conservation Act and Immigration Act 1959/63, Anang said. (syk)

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