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160 Chinese fishermen plead guilty to poaching in Philippines
Puerto Princesa, Sept 27: A total of 160 Chinese fishermen at the center of a diplomatic row between the Philippines and china pleaded guilty in court today to poaching, officials said.
Puerto Princesa, Sept 27: A total of 160 Chinese fishermen at the center of a diplomatic row between the Philippines and china pleaded guilty in court today to
poaching, officials said.
The Chinese were imposed a fine of $ 40 each for the offence at a packed regional court in Puerto Princesa, the capital of the western island of Palawan. The group as a whole also had to pay a penalty of $ 50,000 for illegal fishing as part of a plea bargain, court officials said.
Illegal fishing fines are based on the number of boats used. The fishermen came in eight boats and could have been charged as high as $ 100,000 per boat but the fine was scaled down as part of the plea bargain.
Daisy Sy, an interpreter for the fishermen, informed the court that they wanted to plead guilty on being informed of the fines they would have to pay. Several members of the group also pleaded guilty to related charges of using poison or explosives to catch fish in violation of local laws.
The accused consist of 122 Chinese from six boats picked up more than six months ago and 38 others detained on September 12 off the western island of Palawan, a court official said.
Philippine justice secretary Hernando Perez last week called for the expulsion of the Chinese ambassador Wang Chungqui after they quarreled over the fate of the fishermen. Perez and Wang have since taken conciliatory actions but the Philippines has stood firm on demands that the Chinese must plead guilty or face trial.
Bureau Report
The Chinese were imposed a fine of $ 40 each for the offence at a packed regional court in Puerto Princesa, the capital of the western island of Palawan. The group as a whole also had to pay a penalty of $ 50,000 for illegal fishing as part of a plea bargain, court officials said.
Illegal fishing fines are based on the number of boats used. The fishermen came in eight boats and could have been charged as high as $ 100,000 per boat but the fine was scaled down as part of the plea bargain.
Daisy Sy, an interpreter for the fishermen, informed the court that they wanted to plead guilty on being informed of the fines they would have to pay. Several members of the group also pleaded guilty to related charges of using poison or explosives to catch fish in violation of local laws.
The accused consist of 122 Chinese from six boats picked up more than six months ago and 38 others detained on September 12 off the western island of Palawan, a court official said.
Philippine justice secretary Hernando Perez last week called for the expulsion of the Chinese ambassador Wang Chungqui after they quarreled over the fate of the fishermen. Perez and Wang have since taken conciliatory actions but the Philippines has stood firm on demands that the Chinese must plead guilty or face trial.
Bureau Report