Police step back from investigation

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
POLICE will not step in to investigate a Chinese-crewed fishing vessel in New Ireland until the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has completed its probe, deputy Comm of Police Operations Donald Yamasombi says.
He confirmed that police had taken a step back, allowing NFA and Immigration to continue their investigations.
“Initial complaints were by the NFA. Until and when we take up investigations, I cannot comment on the issue. For now, we will leave investigations with NFA and the Immigration,” DCP Yamasombi said. On Wednesday, the nine crew members of the fishing vessel Min Shi Yu 00368 were charged with illegal entry by the PNG Immigration Authority in Kavieng.
This brought to a total of six charges against the ship’s captain Shi Kehu, from Fujian, three charges against the second in command Ying Kit Lam, from Hong Kong, and two against each for crew members Mariglen Dhimogjini, from Albania, Zhang Zhong, Ye Changcal, Wu Jusheng, Xue Yuxi, Zhou Chen Keng and Ye Li Xiang – all from China.