Authority seeks interpreter for illegal fishermen

By SHEILA LASIBORI
NATIONAL Fisheries Authority officers are still looking for an interpreter to start court proceedings against 18 Indonesian fishermen charged with alleged illegal fishing within Papua New Guinea waters when they were arrested in Daru early this month.
The officers, by 3pm yesterday, were still looking for an interpreter who could speak the Bahasa language to be able to communicate with the fishermen in court when the proceedings starts.
Fisheries senior enforcement officer Maring Kataka said a previous interpreter from West Papua, who used to help the officers and the Grade Five Court communicate with Indonesians in such cases, could not make it to the court as he could not be released by his employer.
The 18 crewmen were charged on Monday under Section 58 (1) (h) of the Fisheries Management Act, for allegedly fishing in PNG waters without valid PNG-issued fishing licences.
The 18 men on board Cahaya Purnama were arrested on March 19 near Jarai village.
Those on board Kurnia and Tira Indah 02 were apprehended near Dogleg area on March 18 and were escorted to Port Moresby last Saturday.
They were on the boats at the PNG Defence Force Lancron Naval Base after their arrival at 10pm last Saturday. They were then taken to the Boroko police station on Monday afternoon, and were charged on Tuesday.
They are yet to appear in court for mention.

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