Police arrest sea pirates

MANADO, North Sulawesi: North Sulawesi Police have arrested nine suspected pirates for allegedly hijacking a Taiwanese fishing boat in waters off Sangihe Talaud district on Dec. 27.

Provincial police spokesman Adj. Sr. Com. Bambang Purnomo said on Thursday night that the nine were arrested in Sorong, Papua between Jan. 11 and Jan. 12.

The suspects, all residents of Bitung district, allegedly hijacked the MV Kua Sheun No. 66, which was carrying 600 tons of fish, near Tagulandang and Biarto islands.

Bambang said that local police, in cooperation with Sorong Police, were still searching for three more pirates.

The suspects took over control of the Taiwanese boat after following it on a speedboat owned by a private firm in Wori subdistrict, Minahasa district.

The International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur has reported that pirate attacks in Indonesian waters topped 100 cases last year, an increase from about 92 the previous year. --Antara