Thai, RI bandits collect 'tax' from Malaysians

Thai, RI bandits collect 'tax' from Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Thai and Indonesian bandits using speedboats and armed with M-16 automatic rifles are preying on Malaysian fishermen to collect "taxes" for straying into international waters to fish in the Straits of Malacca, a report said yesterday.

Police have warned local fishermen to stay within Malaysian waters after several were recently kidnapped and held until ransoms were paid to the bandits, the Star newspaper said.

There have been five kidnappings between April and May, and police believe two syndicates are operating in Thai and Indonesian waters.

The bandits typically harass Malaysian fishermen to pay up to 5,000 ringgit (US$1,250) before they allow them to fish in foreign waters.

Last month, three fishermen were taken hostage to Indonesia's Batam island and freed only after a 14,000 ringgit ransom was paid.

Police said no action can be taken against the bandits because the crimes occurred outside Malaysian waters and the local fishermen were trespassing.

"Although it is an offense to trespass into other countries' territorial waters, local fishermen are willing to take the risk as the catch is very lucrative," a police source said, adding that one catch alone could fetch 10,000 ringgit.

Local fishermen have taken to straying about 15 minutes from the international border and speeding back into Malaysian waters when they spot the bandits approaching.

Malaysian police are now liaising with their Thai and Indonesian counterparts to investigate the attacks.