Indonesian hijackers sentenced to jail for robbing chemical tanker

JOHOR BARU: Nine Indonesian hijackers were today sentenced to 10 years jail and one stroke of the rotan by the Kota Tinggi Sessions court here today for robbing chemical tanker, Mt Sun Birdie in Pengerang waters in January this year.
They were charged under section 397 of Penal Code for gang robbery at 9.49pm, Jan 29, 2015 on Malaysia-registered tanker Mt Sun Birdie.
During the incident, the vessel was laden with 700 metric tonnes of Marine Fuel Oil (MFO) and had a total 10 crewmen on board.
The tanker lost contact with local authorities on Jan 28 about 10pm and the next day about 9.49pm, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detected the tanker at approximately 17.63 nautical miles northeast of Tanjung Penawar, Pengerang.
Seven robbers were still on board, while another two had jumped into the sea.
The tanker had reportedly lost contact near the Singapore Straits.
The nine accused were aged between 26 to 48-years-old.