Four men were fined by the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday after pleading guilty to entering a restricted safety zone to go fishing.
Magistrate Syarifah Nur Baqiyah binti Malai Shahran fined local Sheikh Mohammed Furhan Hassan Nuri, 31, BND5,500, in default of five months’ imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammad Faisal Hassan Noori, 35, Sheikh Mohammad Hassan Jahangir, 30, and permanent resident Asmali Haji Ali Hassan, 49, were each fined BND3,000, in default of three months’ imprisonment.
The defendants entered a restricted 500-metre safety zone which violated Section 132(6) of the Merchant Shipping Order 2002.
The defendants were found tying their boat to one of the metal structures in the restricted zone. Once the approaching patrol was spotted, the defendants untied the boat and fled north.
A chase ensued, and the authorities intercepted the boat. The defendants were arrested and taken to the Marine Police Headquarters along with the boat.
Investigations revealed that the defendants had set off from Jerudong Beach. The boat, piloted by Sheikh Mohammed Furhan, was found carrying approximately 80.5 kilogrammes of fish and fishing equipment, which were confiscated by police.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam confirmed that the boat and its engine were in good condition.
The prosecutor also noted that all four defendants were first-time offenders under the Merchant Shipping Order 2002. – Fadley Faisal
