Magistrate Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman recently handed fines to six local men after they pleaded guilty to entering a prohibited oilfield safety zone.
Haji Mohammad Yazid bin Haji Yussof was fined BND5,000, with a default sentence of five months’ imprisonment.
Mohd Rozaserdi bin Abdul Razak, Azrul Hisyam bin Haji Tasra, Haji Jalani bin Haji Kambar, Mohammad Salehudin bin Hassan and Abdul Syafiq bin Awang Rajid Osman were each fined BND3,000, with a default sentence of three months’ imprisonment.
In delivering the sentence, the Magistrate took into account the defendants’ mitigation, their guilty pleas, and the time saved for the court and prosecution. It was also noted that all six defendants were first-time offenders.
The court heard that the incident took place on July 9, 2023, when the defendants, using a fibreglass boat, entered the oilfield prohibited safety zone.
Haji Mohammad Yazid, who was the boat’s master, along with the five others who were onboard, were apprehended by the Marine Police. At around noon, Marine Police personnel spotted the boat near the oil platform, where the occupants were seen dumping traps into the sea.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the boat itself belonged to Mohd Rozaserdi.
The other passengers, Azrul Hisyam, Haji Jalani, Mohammad Salehudin and Abdul Syafiq, were all serving members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces at the time, except for Abdul Syafiq, who was unemployed.
The Marine Police discovered fish as well as fishing and diving equipment onboard, all of which were seized. A technical report from the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam confirmed that the boat and its engines were in good condition. – Fadley Faisal
