PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has begun the process to extradite the hijackers of MT Orkim Harmony from Vietnam.
Its deputy director-general (operation) Rear Admiral Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar said Vietnamese authorities had confirmed that the eight men admitted to hijacking the vessel.
In a statement here on Sunday, he said MMEA had so far handled five armed robbery cases, involving 40 accused who were now serving time for committing the offences.
On MT Sun Birdie, he said, hearing of the case had started.
On January, the MMEA successfully foiled an attempt by pirates to hijack the vessel, which was carrying 700 tonnes of marine fuel oil off Tanjung Siang, near Johor. A group of nine hijackers were detained.
"Hence, investigation and prosecution involving robbery at sea is not new to MMEA," said Ahmad Puzi.
He also urged all quarters against making speculations that could affect investigation of the case relating to Orkim Harmony.
He said the agency's forensic officer had started collecting evidence and statements were being recorded by the investigating officer from witnesses on the vessel.
Ahmad Puzi was commenting a newspaper report on Sunday which claimed the involvement of an “inside man”.
He added that the master and crew of MT Orkim Harmony were given counselling by the Armed Forces Hospital and Mercy Malaysia.
MT Orkim Harmony was laden with 6,000 tonnes of petrol, worth RM21mil, when it lost communication with base at 8.57pm on June 11 at Tanjung Sedili, Kota Tinggi, in Johor.
There were 22 crew on board, comprising 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar national.
The vessel was detected the following day, repainted and renamed “Kim Harmon”.
The crew members were released at about 2.30am on Friday, and the vessel arrived at Kuantan Port on Saturday. - BERNAMA
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