The forty Vietnamese who came on the blue wooden boats and stole our marine resources will be appearing in the Honiara Magistrates’ Court this Thursday.
They came to the Honiara Magistrates’ Court yesterday but since there was no interpreter available, their matter was further adjourned.
The crew members will appear together with the three captains of the blue boats this Thursday.
The forty crew members will be dealt with by the court for failing to pay up their fines by May 1, which lapsed yesterday.
The court will decided on what punishment to give to those who have failed to pay up their fines.
Chief Magistrate John Numapo had ordered them 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.
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.
Mr Numapo ordered them to pay up the fine before or by May 1, to when their warrants of detention will expire.
The three captains, Do Van Va, Vo Van Vi, and Nguyen Nguyen 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 maximum penalty for these offences ranges from $5 million to $12 million fines or three years imprisonment.
They are currently in custody awaiting their matter to be committed to the High Court.
Their matter will be dealt with by the High Court given that the Honiara Magistrates’ Court does not have the jurisdiction to do so.
The High Court will also be dealing with the issues such as the forfeiture of the boats as well as the fishing gears on board the blue boats.
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
