Father, son jailed, fined RM20,000 over bombed fish
KOTA KINABALU: Two fishermen were yesterday jailed for one year and fined RM20,000, in default, 12 months in jail for possessing 13 bombed fish.
Sessions Court judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamed imposed the sentences on Muntaha Doon, 50, and his son Mad Yasan Muntaha, 29, after they pleaded guilty to committing the offence.
They were caught for possessing the fish in their boat at Pantai Teringai waters in Matunggong, Kudat at 12.30pm on April 4.
The offence was framed under Section 26(1)(c) of the Fisheries Act 1985, punishable under Section 25(b) of the same Act read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum fine of RM20,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both, upon conviction.
In mitigation, counsel Farazwin Haxdy, who acted for both, Muntaha and Mad, prayed for leniency on the grounds that her client's family had lost a source of income.
She said that Muntaha is a sole breadwinner and a father of ten children and Mad is also a married man.
Prosecuting officer from the Fisheries Department, William Apin replied that fish bombing is rampant nowadays and such activity would not only kill fish but destroy other marine life as well.
Thus, he urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence.
Based on the facts of the case, Muntaha and his son were apprehended by the Marine officer during 'Ops Pensura'.
The officer had found about three kilograms of fish and samples of the fish were taken for analyzation. It was confirmed that the fish was caught using explosives.