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Kota Kinabalu: Five Vietnamese were charged with fishing illegally in Malaysian waters.

They were skipper Nguyen Hoa Hiep, crews Lan Dinh Toan, Chan Ngoc Sang, Tran Thanh Hai and Nguyen Hoang Lanh, aged between 58 and 20.

The Vietnamese pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court Judge Egusra Ali, when the charge against them was read in Vietnam language on Wednesday.

The five allegedly committed fishing without any permit from the Malaysian Fisheries Chief Director inside a foreign vessel at 2.40pm on March 7 this year at Tanjung Kiamsam, Pulau Labuan.

The offence under Section 15(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25 (a) of the same Act and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code provides for fine of up to RM1 million for the vessel skipper while RM100,000 for each crew of the vessel, on conviction.

The court set July 16 for case management and no bail was offered to the Vietnamese.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Wan Muhammad Fitri Wan Azizan from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement appeared for the prosecution while the Vietnamese were represented by counsel Arthur Bonnie.