GEORGE TOWN: Ten crew members of a dredger were detained after a failed attempt to bribe enforcement officers during a late-night Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) operation off Tanjung Tokong.
State MMEA director Captain Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli said the vessel was intercepted by a maritime patrol boat while anchored about 1.0 nautical mile northeast of Tanjung Tokong at about 11.30pm on Sunday (May 10).
He said the dredger was manned by 17 foreign crew members, comprising Indonesians and Chinese nationals, aged 32 to 52.
“Investigations found that several crew members failed to produce valid identification documents and were suspected of entering Malaysia through unauthorised entry points, an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (May 12).
Muhammad Suffi said that further inspection revealed the vessel was carrying sand cargo beyond its permitted capacity and that several individuals on board were not listed on the official crew manifest.
“During the inspection, there were attempts to offer bribes to enforcement personnel as well as attempts to obstruct officers from carrying out their duties,” he added.
He said 10 crew members were later escorted to the Penang MMEA for further investigations under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, and Section 186 of the Penal Code.
