KUCHING: All 11 Malaysian fishermen from here who were detained by Indonesian authorities on Wednesday were released yesterday.
This was confirmed by Sarawak Maritime (APMM) director Robert Teh Geok Chuan who said yesterday that the release of the 11 came after APMM met with the Indonesian authorities.
“The boat and the 11 Malaysians are on their way home right now and should reach here by 3pm tomorrow (today),” Teh said.
Earlier yesterday Kuching police chief Supt Ismail Mahmood confirmed that the Maritime department had been informed of the arrest of 12 fishermen, a skipper and a crew from Kuching yesterday morning.
A police report was lodged at 7am yesterday.
Ismail said the 14 were arrested 51 nautical miles from Tanjung, Datu, Sematan by the Indonesian army.
He said they were in a fishing boat, Nemo, and were taken to Pulau Batang, Riau in Indonesia.
Ismail said the authorities concerned had alerted the relevant agencies for further action.
He added he has also informed Lundu police as it is under their territory.
Teh yesterday said the boat had three crew members, one of whom was an Indonesian, and 11 others onboard when Indonesian soldiers arrested them.
