The Solomon Islands Magistrate’s Court in Honiara has fined the 40 Vietnamese “blue boats” crew members almost SBD$800 (US$102) each for illegally entering the country.
The 40 men, crew members of the three boats now anchored in Point Cruz, were detained last month after they were caught fishing illegally.
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They pleaded guilty to entering the country illegally, under the Solomon Islands Immigration laws.
Chief Magistrate John Numapo gave them Wednesday 19 April until May 1 to pay their fines.
He also asked them if they knew they were breaking the country’s law by coming into the Solomon seas.
The crew answered, through a translator, that they did not know they were breaking any law.
Chief Magistrate Numapo urged them to pay their fines, warning he would impose a different sentence if they failed.
The three captains of the blue boats will appear separately in court today. SOURCE: SIBC/PACNEWS [/restrict]