13 Indonesian fishermen released from Malaysian detention

Thirteen Indonesian fishermen from Tangkahan hamlet in Batubara, North Sumatra, who were caught fishing illegally in Malaysian waters on Aug. 5, have been released.

The fishermen, six of them under the age of 17, embarked on two fishing ships, KM Jasa Laut and an unnamed boat, to go fishing in the Malaka Strait on Aug. 3 before being stopped by the Malaysian Marine Police near Jarak Island.

Ahmad Khori, 33, the captain of KM Jasa Laut, said that seven adult fishermen were detained in a temporary shelter until Aug. 14, while the six underage detainees were held at the rumah detensi (or detention centre).

The adult fishermen were later sentenced to five days in jail by the Malaysian Subordinate Court for illegally entering Malaysian territory.-Asia News Network (September 03, 2012)