Taiwan boats apprehended

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Navy has apprehended 10 Taiwan- registered vessels which were spotted fishing illegally in the Aru Sea in eastern Indonesia.

Navy chief spokesman Col. Totok Laksito said that one of the boats tried to get away but was stopped after crew aboard the Navy warship KRI Karel Satsuit Tubun fired warning shots in the air.

The boats and their crews were apparently hired by Indonesian companies but, upon inspection, none of them had the proper documents to fish in Indonesian waters, he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

The boats are impounded at a naval base in Tual to be processed in accordance with the law, he said. (emb)