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RI fishermen's trial postponed until June

| Source: AP

RI fishermen's trial postponed until June

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): A judge on Sunday postponed the trial of 39 Indonesian fishermen whose arrest for illegally entering Malaysian waters earlier this year has sparked protests in Indonesia.

Magistrate Court Judge Ibrahim Osman postponed hearings until June 10 to enable the fishermen's newly appointed defense lawyer to study the case, which is being heard in Malaysia's northern Langkawi resort island, the national news agency, Bernama, reported.

The fishermen have been charged with illegally fishing in a trawler near Langkawi and attempting to flee enforcement officials who arrested them on Feb. 1.

Authorities say the fishermen tried to ram a Malaysian navy patrol boat which ordered them to halt. The patrol boat fired warning shots, wounding one of the Indonesians, who later died.

Hundreds of Indonesian fishermen staged protests last week at a Malaysian consulate on Indonesia's Sumatra island to demand their colleagues' release.

The Indonesian government has accused the Malaysian navy of using excessive force. But Malaysian officials insist their men were following regulations.

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