《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Captain, crew detained by Philippines released

COSTLY CATCH: The ship’s captain had not decided whether to return to Taiwan or go on another fishing trip to make up for losses from the US$50,000 fine

/ Staff writer, with CNA, Manila

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The captain and crew aboard a Taiwanese fishing ship detained by the Philippines in Batanes Province last week under suspicion of poaching in Philippine territorial waters were released yesterday and allowed to return home after paying a fine of US$50,000.

Lin Tung-heng （林東亨）, a section chief with Taiwan’s representative office in the Philippines, and Hsu Chi-yeh （許啟業）, an official with the nation’s Coast Guard Administration, presented a check for US$50,000 to the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to pay the fine.

The sum had been remitted to the Philippines by the family of Captain Hung Tien-ting （洪添丁）.

The fisheries agency then filed a motion with the Basco District prosecutors’ office and court in Batanes to drop the case.

The court agreed, leading to the immediate release of the ship, its captain and crew.

Hung, who is to leave the Philippines today with his ship and crew, said after the court ruling that he was considering whether to return to Taiwan or go on another fishing trip to make up for losses from the fine.

Expressing the financial pressure he felt in paying the fine, Hung said that he would discuss the issue with his family before making a decision.

He also expressed his gratitude to Taiwan’s representatives in Manila for their assistance over the past week.

The Pingtung-registered Sheng Feng No. 12 was detained on Thursday last week while passing through waters about 6.5 nautical miles （12km） off the coast of Mavulis Island, called Yami Island by Taiwan, the northernmost island of the Batan Islands, when it was stopped for inspection by a Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel.

The six people aboard — Hung; the chief engineer, surnamed Huang （黃）; and four Indonesian fishermen — were each released on bail of 15,000 pesos （US$336） on Friday last week after negotiations with Philippine officials.

They were allowed to move freely in the Philippines before appearing in court yesterday.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES