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USD100 fine each for Vietnamese fishermen

Three of the blue Vietnamese fishing boats at the Patrol base wharf… Photo by Ben Bilua

FORTY-three Vietnamese fishermen caught illegally entering Solomon Islands on March 22 of this year will pay a fine of USD100 each before May 1 2017.

Chief Magistrate John Numapo imposes the penalty yesterday in the Honiara Magistrate Court.

The Vietnamese men will pay USD20 per day for the five days when their boats were sighted in the Solomon Islands Exclusive Economic Zone.

The total fine should be paid in USD4,300 for the defendants.

That is from March 22 to March 26.

Public Prosecutor Andrew Kelesi in his submission said the court must consider a punishment that will send a message to like-minded foreigners that such offending should not be tolerated in this country.

It is a national issue and it is happening where foreigners illegally reaping the natural resources of this country, Mr Kelesi submitted.

The 43 Vietnamese were charged under the Solomon Islands Immigration Act for not having a valid visa to enter Solomon Islands.

They were charged in relation to the incident of March 22 where they were found illegally fishing at the Indispensable reef at the Rennell Bellona province.

Forty defendants appeared in court yesterday while three others believed to be the captains of the three boats are dealt separately from the crews.

The court with the assistance from a Vietnamese interpreter Dang Thi Ninh questioned the 40 Vietnamese whether it is true that they were alleged of not having a valid visa to enter Solomon Islands.

They answered through the interpreter saying yes they did not have any valid visa and also they admitted in court that were just following the captain of their boats.

They themselves also did not know that they are in the Solomon Islands territory, the interpreter said.

The Vietnamese also told the court through the interpreter that they have been travelling for about a month in the sea from Vietnam.

When the court asks if they have passports with them they said they did not have any passports.

Interpreter Ninh also told the court that the defendants want to go back to their country and also they are suggesting that since they did not have any money to pay for the fine, they wanted assistance to call their Vietnam Embassy office in Australia to assist them in paying their fine.

The court then said any arrangement in regards to payment of fines is up to the defendants but if the fines are not paid by the next appearance then the court will decide.

Magistrate Numapo then adjourned the case for May 1.