MMEA detains Vietnamese skipper for attempted bribery

KEMAMAN: A Vietnamese captain of a fishing vessel was detained for allegedly offering Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers an RM8,000 bribe as inducement to set him and his crew free for trespassing Malaysian waters.
Kemaman MMEA (Maritime Zone) chief, Maritime Lieutenant Commander Mohamad Rezal Kamal Bashah said the case was referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for further action.
He said 20 Vietnamese crew members on board two fishing boats were detained about 5.30pm yesterday for fishing in Malaysian waters.
The suspects, aged between 17 and 47, did not possess permit to fish or personal identification documents.
He said MMEA also seized more than 1.5 tonnes of fish amounting about RM2 million from the suspects. — Bernama