A crew of 39 Vietnamese fishermen from Quang Nam Province were arrested by Brunei patrolmen on June 7, and are now facing charges of illegal fishing in Bruneian waters.
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| Squid fishing boat in Nui Thanh District |
On June 16, the chairman of Tam Giang Commune People's Committee, Ngo Van Thong, confirmed the information. The crew of a squid-fishing boat departed on May 8 and was arrested on June 7. The exact coordinates of their fishing area are still undetermined.
Thong said that the incident has already been reported to higher-ups. Communal authorities have also worked with the families of the ship's crew to provide what aid they can. After the arrest, the captain called his wife via Vietnamese Embassy in Brunei to let her know that he was being well-treated. The case has been scheduled for a hearing on June 21 in Brunei.
Nguyen Chi Dan, from Nui Thanh District People's Committee, said that they have reported the case to the Quang Nam People's Committee, and is expected to be passed on to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.