The three captains of the blue boats who entered our waters and stole our marine resources will be sentenced this afternoon in the High Court.
Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer will hand down his sentence at 3pm this afternoon.
Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen have early last month pleaded guilty to the 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 maximum penalty for these offences ranges from $100,000 to $12 million fines or five years imprisonment.
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.
The 40 crews after paying their fines for illegal staying in the country have already returned to Vietnam.
A total of US$4,300 fine which is equivalent to about SBD $33, 454 that was imposed on them was paid to the State.
They 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.
By ASSUMPTA BUCHANAN
