THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2000
Filipino fishermen main culprits in fish bombing
By Arman Gunsika
KOTA KINABALU - Filipino fishermen have been identified as the main offenders involved in fish bombing activities throughout Sabah over the last two years, revealed Sandakan Divisional Marine Police Commander SACII Muhammad Muda.He said between January and November this year alone, Marine Police seized 7,076 kgs of bombed fish in 41 cases involving 82 Filipinos and some locals, all of them males.
In comparison, 3,444kgs of fish that had been caught using explosives in 34 cases involved 44 Filipinos, two locals and one Indonesian during the same period last year.
SAC II Muhammad Muda said 27 detonators, six fuses and 19 half kg bottles of explosives were recovered this year against 427 detonators last year.
Semporna topped this year's fish bombing activities with 15 cases followed by Lahad Datu with 10, Kota Kinabalu (8), Sandakan (5), Tawau (2) and one in Kudat.
"Lahad Datu recorded 12 cases last year followed by Kota Kinabalu (10), Semporna (9), Kudat (2) and one in Tawau," he said after distributing Hari Raya goodies to Marine Police personnel from six zones donated by Inspector-General of Police and corporate bodies.
He also urged the people to assist police in curbing fish bombing activities by refraining from buying bombed fish and to alert police on any being sold in their respective areas.
SAC II Muhammad Muda also said Marine Police had also made 928 arrests at sea over the past 11 months.
Copyright © 1999 Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved.