Illegals jailed for having bombed fish
Published on: Thursday, April 13, 2023
By: Cynthia D Baga
The offence under Section 26(1)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(b) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code provides for a fine of up to RM20,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
Kota Kinabalu: Three Filipinos fishermen, one of them a disabled person, were jailed six months each for having 10 bombed fish.Korsidin Burahim, 39, Rasmel Bismane, 18, Apah Marisa,30, pleaded guilty before Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus, Wednesday.
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The trio were found having various types of fish caught by explosives inside a pump boat in Tanjung Siagut Pulau Balambangan, Kudat at 12.30pm on Feb 22 this year.
The offence under Section 26(1)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and punishable under Section 25(b) of the same Act and read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code provides for a fine of up to RM20,000, or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
The court ordered the Filipinos to serve the jail sentence from the date of their arrest and referred to the Immigration Department after completing the jail sentence.
During mitigation, the trio asked for a light sentence saying that they were breadwinners of their families and they promised to not repeat the offence in future.
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Korsidin informed the court he has five children to look after while Rasmel has a wife.
Apah who is deaf and mute, through a sign language interpreter, said he is an orphan.
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However, Prosecuting Officer William Apin from the Fisheries Department urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence for public interest as well as to prevent the sources of fish and marine habitat.
He added that the sentence was also meant to stop the fish bombing activity in Sabah especially at the Kudat waters.
The court heard that Marine Police stopped the boat and found about 100kg various types of fish, believed caught with explosives.
The police arrested three men who did not have any identity document.
Ten of the fish were sent to the Fisheries Department for investigation and the chemist’s report confirmed that the fish was caught with explosives.
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