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JOHOR BARU – The smuggling syndicate linked to a boat capsize incident off Tg Balau, Kota Tinggi, on December 15, in which 21 illegal immigrants died, has been identified.
Johor acting police chief Datuk Khaw Kok Chin, however, said he could not reveal more on the matter as the case is still being investigated.
“We have identified the syndicate in the ‘bot pancung’ (longboat) incident, but I can’t provide the details to the media (such as whether it is a Malaysian or Indonesian syndicate involved) as our plan could fail.
“If we are successful in our investigation and in identifying the skipper involved, we will disclose it to the media,” he told a news conference held at the Johor contingent police headquarters here today.
Khaw said that so far, 19 bodies out of the 21 Indonesian nationals who died in the incident had been sent back to the republic via the sea route while the other two were still in the identification process.
Yesterday, the Consulate-General of the Republic of Indonesia here through a statement on its official Facebook page, announced that eight bodies were sent back on January 4 using an Indonesian Marine Police ship, KP Laksmana 7012, bringing the number of bodies returned to 19 so far.
Meanwhile, Khaw said, cooperation and sharing of information between the Johor police contingent and Indonesian police, as well as assistance from the relevant agencies of both countries had brought success, especially in Op Benteng throughout last year.
“From the close cooperation, 137 raids were conducted and 73 boat skippers arrested, comprising 30 citizens, 40 Indonesians, two Pakistan nationals and a Thai citizen.
“Following the raids, 29 probe papers were opened and the investigation is being conducted under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, where 19 charges have been made against 38 Indonesian boat skippers, with the cases still being heard in court,” he said. – Bernama, January 6, 2022