The daily fines for the 40 crews and three captains of the blue boats for illegally staying in the country are now paid.
This was confirmed in court on Monday by Immigration Officer Chris Akosawa who appeared on behalf of the matter.
He said the total fine of USD$4,300 had been transferred to the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) account through the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (CBSI).
Mr Akosawa asked the court for an extension of the detention order for another 14 days to allow the crews to wait for their flights back to Vietnam.
This was after he also confirmed the airfares for the 40 crews to travel back to their country have been paid.
The first four crews will leave the country tomorrow whilst the second batch of nine crews will leave on Friday.
The rest will leave on May 29.
Meanwhile the three captains who also facing charges under the Fisheries Management Act whom are in custody will however remain in the country until their matter is dealt with by the court.
Mr Akosawa told Chief Magistrate John Numapo that the Vietnam Embassy in Canberra had officially informed the Solomon Islands High Commission in Canberra that the airfares and daily fines for the 40 crews and three captains for illegal staying in the country are now paid.
“The airfares for the 40 crews are now sorted out by their families and Vietnam Embassy in Canberra.”
He said their bookings had confirmed they will travel from Honiara via Port Moresby, Manila and then to their final destination in Saigon.
“The 40 crews will be departed voluntarily back to their home country, Vietnam.”
He said the detention order is for them to remain at Rove Police Club lawfully while waiting for their departure.
The 40 crews and three captains were each imposed with a $100 US dollars each, which totalled up to US $4,300 and equivalent to about SBD $33, 454.
This is pursuant to sections 28 (1) and 29 (1) read with 87 (1) of the Immigration Regulation of 2013, with a daily fine of prescribed amount of USD $20 per day for the days commencing from the date of their unlawful non-citizen in the Solomon Islands when they were sighted on the Indispensable reef near Rennell and Bellona province until the date of their arrest, on 26 March, 2017.
Chief Magistrate John Numapo had ordered them last month to pay up the total fine of about SBD $33, 454.
This was after they pleaded guilty to the charges against them under the Immigration Act, being one of unlawful citizen.
The case of the three captains Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen are pending in the High Court.
They will be dealt with by the High Court given that the maxim fine for the offences they allegedly committed ranges from $100,000 to $12 million.
The three captains are facing charges of illegal entry into Fisheries water without an appropriate entry permit approved by Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, prohibition of catching, selling of Beche-de-mer, permitting Fishing gears on board Fishing vessel in the Fisheries waters, and engaging in activity relating to fish processing for the purpose of export without a valid license.
They were charged under various sections of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 and Fisheries (Amendment) Regulation 2009.
The 40 crews and three captains of the three wooden blue boats have been caught by police on 26 March this year at the Indispensable Reef, 50 Kilometres south of Rennell Island, Renbel Province.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
