Indonesian fishermen charged in Australia

Indonesian fishermen charged in Australia

PERTH, Australia (AFP): The skipper and two crew members of another Indonesian vessel apprehended in Australian waters face fines of up to 25,000 Australian dollars (US$19,375) if convicted when they appear in court yesterday on illegal fishing charges.

A Western Australian Fisheries Department officer told AFP yesterday the three will appear before Magistrate Colin Roberts in the Magistrate's Court in Broome, in the far north of Western Australia.

The spokesman said Muhamad Azis, 51, the skipper, and crew members Anwar, 21, and Tamba, 29, all from the village of Papela, on the island of Roti, had been charged after the 11-meter (36- foot) wooden sailing vessel, Tornado, was intercepted by Fisheries Department officers 155 nautical miles northwest of Broome Saturday.

The Department alleges a quantity of shark fin and flesh was on the boat.

Those charged, who were among 11 men on the boat, are being held at the Department's caretaker facility at Willie Creek, near Broome.

Azis has been charged with being in charge of the vessel and using it for illegal fishing.

Anwar and Tamba are charged with using the boat for illegal fishing.

The spokesman said the Tornado was the 11th Indonesian boat apprehended in Australian waters this year by Fisheries officers based in Broome.

Other boats intercepted by patrol vessels from the Northern Territory had been taken to Darwin, he said.

He said if the three men were found guilty, the Department would seek forfeiture of the vessel, its catch and equipment.