Police defend move to send Thais home

Police defend move to send Thais home

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: West Kalimantan Police spokesman Comr. Suhadi S.W. said here on Monday that the recent repatriation of 238 Thai fishermen from the province was lawful.

He was responding to public criticism that the repatriation of the fishermen and the return of their six fishing boats violated prevailing procedures.

Suhadi said that the decision to repatriate the fishermen was made after consulting the provincial fisheries and marine resources office, the regional police and the immigration office.

"We sent them home because we feared the spread of diseases that they may have been carrying while staying in Indonesia. So the allegation that we received bribes is not true," he added. --Antara