A court in the Somalia’s autonomous region of Puntland has released two Indonesian fishermen who had been detained more than three months over allegations of illegal fishing.
Nugal court chief Abdinur Jama Hussein ordered the release of Captain Mohli Batiwawa, 46, and Aziz Hermans, 56, due to lack of strong evidences regarding the allegations against them.
In October last year, the Prosecutor of the court accused both men for fishing without a permit in Puntland territorial waters.
The fishermen are expected to fly back to home in order to reunite with their families.
Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa with 3,330 KM. Since the central government was overthrown in 1991, foreign fishing trawlers began illegal fishing and ships from big companies started dumping waste off the coast of the lawless country.
Fishing vessels from Europe and Asia have traveled to Somalia waters to take what they can without permission or licenses. They use efficient mechanical equipment, taking massive numbers of fish stocks. It is estimated that Somalia looses more than $200 million per year because of these foreign trawlers, a huge amount that would be enough to build basic infrastructure in the war-ravaged nation.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Puntland Court releases Indonesian fishermen detained over allegations of illegal fishing
Published: January 2, 2016
