11 Indonesian pirates jailed for hijacking oil tanker (Updated)

KUALA TERENGGANU: Eleven Indonesian citizens were sentenced to 16 years jail each, with six of them to be given five strokes of the cane, by Sessions Court here today after they pleaded guilty to hijacking an oil tanker in the waters off Terengganu earlier this month.
They were ordered to serve their jail sentence from the date of their arrest, which was Sept 6 or 7.
Ten of the modern pirates – Anne Raja, Arsito Mohd Hardi, Kreston Muhaling, La Abu, Bram Ali, Luther Marnis Zachawerus, Badiun, Meidy Hermanus Wajongkere, Rollan Kapahese and Oktemi Supri, aged between 31 and 59, were sentenced by judge Rofiah Mohamad.
They were charged along with three others, who are still at large, with committing gang robbery on MT MGT-1, belonging to Thai-based Marine Global Transport, while armed with knives, swords and a machete, causing losses and bringing fear to the 14 crew onboard.
The offence was committed in the waters off Terengganu at 8.30pm on Sept 6.
Before handing down the sentence, Rofiah told them that they should consider themselves lucky, as the weapons allegedly used in committing the offence have not been found.
In mitigation, the accused told the court that they regretted their actions and that their families were in Indonesia.
Deputy public prosecutor Nurul Farahah Mohd Suah prosecuted.
Meanwhile, in court before judge Mohammad Haidar Abdul Aziz, Heinrick Piterson Parera, who is the mastermind, was sentenced to 16 years jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring with three others still at large, with robbing the tanker.
He was charged with committing the offence at Ghazrin Budget Hotel Sdn Bhd, Larkin Johor, at 8.30pm on Sept 6.
According to the facts of the case, Heinrick was the mastermind and was stayed at the hotel in order to monitor the movement of the oil tanker for two months through the online Marine Traffic system and Ship Finder prior to the robbery.
A crew member was injured in the incident, and the crew members were rescued after a fishermen lodged a report with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency upon seeing the accused climbing onto the Thai tanker. — Bernama