Seven Thais questioned on fuel

AMBON, Maluku: Seven Thais have been questioned by the Maluku Police as witnesses in the alleged smuggling of illegal diesel fuel by the crew of tanker ship MT Nuhuyut, a police official said on Tuesday.

Apart from the seven Thai crew members, the police are still hunting down two Singaporeans suspected of being the owners of the fuel.

Maluku Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Artsianto Dharmawan said so far the police had only named the ship's captain, Jeditson Manope -- a native of the North Sulawesi town of Bitung -- a suspect.

"The police have named the ship's captain a suspect but we'll continue questioning several witnesses who are thought to have known about the smuggling attempt," Artsianto told The Jakarta Post.

He said the police had questioned 11 witnesses in relation to the case, including the Navy personnel who apprehended the ship.

The ship was apprehended by the Navy on Sept. 29, along with its Indonesian captain and 13 Thai crew members, for failing to show its delivery order and other documents required for carrying 1,100 tones of diesel fuel. -- JP