December 16, 2024
A Myanmar court in Kawthoung has sentenced four Thai fishermen to prison after their fishing boat was seized by the Myanmar Navy for illegal fishing in Myanmarโs territorial waters, according to Thai news reports.
Sources close to the Kawthoung court stated that the boat owner received a six-year prison sentence, including five years for illegal fishing and one year for unlawful entry into the country. He was also fined 200,000 kyats. The three crew members were each sentenced to four years in prison for similar charges and fined 30,000 kyats.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra indicated that the imprisoned fishermen could be released during the New Year period under a possible amnesty.
The incident occurred on November 30, when the Myanmar Navy fired on Thai fishing boats allegedly engaged in illegal fishing. During the operation, one person reportedly jumped overboard and drowned. Authorities arrested four Thai nationals and 27 Myanmar crew members. The legal status of the detained Myanmar nationals remains unclear.
A spokesperson for Myanmarโs military council previously claimed that investigations uncovered revidence of non-weapon terrorism related to the incident.
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