35 Thai fishermen deported from Aceh

35 Thai fishermen deported from Aceh

INDONESIA: Local immigration authorities have deported 35 Thai
fishermen to their country after being detained at the Singkil
correctional facility in Aceh, since August for poaching in
Indonesian waters, an official said on Saturday.

The Thai fishermen left Aceh Singkil district on Friday in
three minivans, bound for the Belawan port in North Sumatra from
where they went straight to Thailand aboard a ship, head of the
correctional facility, T. Hasnur Abidin, said as quoted by
Antara.

The 35 fishermen were crew members of three Thai fishing boats
caught by the Marine Security Coordinating Board (Bakor Kamla) of
Aceh Singkil for poaching fish in Indonesian waters, he said.

They were deported after being found innocent in the case, he
said.

Meanwhile, six other Thai fishermen, consisting of three
captains and three machine cabin chiefs, are being detained at
the correctional facility on charges of poaching fish in
Indonesian waters.

Earlier, deputy head of the Aceh Singkil district court, M.
Sabir, said Indonesian Navy investigators are in the process of
interrogating the six Thai fishermen as suspects in the case. --JP