Batam Police arrest pirates<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Batam<\/p>\n
Riau Islands' air and water police apprehended seven out of 12
\npirates who had taken over boats for eight hours in Berakit
\nwaters in Riau Islands regency, an official said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Water police unit commander, Sr. Comr. Imam B. Sumpeno, told
\nThe Jakarta Post that the boats, Bahar XXVII and Bahar 11
\nbelonging to PT Habco Primatama in Pekanbaru, were taken by force
\nby 12 pirates operating in the Malacca Strait on Sunday at 1 a.m.<\/p>\n
The boats had just been made by PT Bandar Victory Shipyard in
\nSekupang Batam.<\/p>\n
\"We got the report at 9 a.m. (on Sunday). As soon as we
\nobtained the boats' route from the owners, we searched for the
\npirates. These waters (near Riau Islands) are prone to piracy,\"
\nImam said.<\/p>\n
The seven arrested pirates were Doni, 39; Anton, 29;
\nHermansyah, 35; Maksimus N., 28; Frans B., 54; Samsudin, 51; and
\nDaymond, 28. The remaining pirates managed to escape.<\/p>\n
The two boats, worth Rp 30 billion (US$3.1 million), were
\nscheduled to travel from Sekupang in Batam to South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The pirates managed to change the name of Bahar 11 to Ayu.<\/p>\n
\"The pirates are part of an international ship piracy
\nsyndicate,\" said Imam, adding that the boats would have been
\ntaken to Thailand.<\/p>\n
The boats are now anchored at Batu Ambar port in Batam.<\/p>\n
According to air and water police's data, the number of
\npirated ships has been declining. In 2004, 14 ships were pirated,
\nof which five cases were solved. In 2003, it recorded 20 cases,
\nwhile from January to April this year, it has recorded five
\ncases.<\/p>\n
Commander of Bahar 11 ship, Dwi Darmanto, said the pirates
\nmoved to his ship from a small motorized boat in Berakit waters,
\nand threatened the crew with sharp weapons.<\/p>\n
\"One of the pirates who was using a homemade firearm, demanded
\nthat I surrender the ship's documents. After that they dumped us
\non Karas island. Fortunately, my cell phone still worked there so
\nwe could contact the company and called the police,\" Dwi said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/batam-police-arrest-pirates-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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