Charged with illegal entry

The National National
The nine crew members formally charged with one count each of illegal entry by Port Moresby-based CID officer corporal Joe Aisi. Looking on is Dennis Badi (left) from the East New Britain Immigration office and Henry Lubang (right) of Immigration Enforcement Port Moresby. – Picture supplied

NINE crew members of the fishing vessel Min Shi Yu 00368 were formally charged by the PNG Immigration Authority in Kavieng, New Ireland, yesterday afternoon.
The nine crew were charged with one count each of illegal entry under the Migration Act (1978).
Ship captain Shi Kehu of Fujian, China, was charged with a total of six charges; second in command Ying Kit Lam, from Hong Kong, has three charges against him while crew members Mariglen Dhimogjini, from Albania, Zhang Zhong, Ye Changcal, Wu Jusheng, Xue Yuxi, Zhou Chen Keng and Ye Li Xiang, all from China, had two charges each.
National Fisheries Authority executive manager monitoring control and surveillance Gisa Komangin, who earlier, told The National that the last six crew members, all from China, were fined K5,000 to be paid within seven days.
The NFA team in Kavieng confirmed that the six crew had paid their K5,000 fines.
Capt Shi, second in command Ying and crew member Dhimogjini were supposed to face court yesterday after they maintained a not guilty plea, however, their lawyer is expected in the province today, so the case was adjourned to Friday.
The Min Shi Yu 00368 has been forfeited to the State with all equipment on board. The crew members are currently being held in an undisclosed area in Kavieng town.