REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUNUKAN -- Maritime police of Sabah, Malaysia have arrested six fishermen of Sebatik Island, Nunukan, North Kalimantan for fishing in its waters. Sebatik Fishermen Association Chairman, Muh Jafar in Nunukan confirmed the arrest of the six fishermen on Friday at 05.00 am local time.
"The fishermen were arrested by the Tawau maritime police (Malaysia) for entering Malaysian waters and fishing," Muh Jafar said through a short message on Saturday.
But Muh Jafar said the Sebatik fishermen accidentally entered territorial waters of Malaysia as dragged by the ocean waves in Tinagat Tawau waters in the early hours of the day.
Muh Jafar said another fishermen who fishing together in the Indonesian waters saw Malaysian maritime police herded three boats with six people to the Tinggat Tawau waterfront.
"So other fishermen also from Sebatik saw the three boats owned by fishermen and its six crews led by the Malaysian police towards Tawau," Muh Jafar said who claimed received information from other fishermen of Sebatik fishermen.
Muh Jafar did not receive more information about the existence of six fishermen to Sebatik Island until now. Therefore, the family tried to contact their family in Tawau in order to be freed.
The fishermen arrested are Supriadi (28 years old), Dandu (24), Mustafa (45), Ferianto bin Mustafa (28), Sapruddin or Ancong (28), and Adi or Addi (25).