The Chinese “Hua Yi No. 9” sand pumper was seized and berthed at Xingda Port.

(file photo)

[Reporter Cai Qinghua/Kaohsiung Report] The Chinese sand pumping ship "Hua Yi No. 9" crossed the border to steal 300 tons of sand. 9 crew members pleaded guilty and negotiated, but the captain did not plead guilty; He will be deported after the prosecution implements security measures, and the captain will be detained and the trial will continue.

The judgment pointed out that the Chinese-registered "Huayi No. 9" sand pumping vessel, driven by a 46-year-old captain surnamed Chen and carrying 9 crew members, set off from a port in Zhao'an County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province in April this year, and arrived at Xingxing District, Jialing District, Kaohsiung City on the 26th. 93 miles away from Dagang, there was a shallow pile in Taiwan, illegally pumping about 300 metric tons of sea sand; the sea patrol team boarded and arrested, ordered the sea sand to be backfilled into the sea area, and seized the sand pumping ship and pulled it back to Xingda Port to berth.

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The prosecution prosecuted 10 people for violating the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Reef Law of the Republic of China, and they were transferred to the District Court for custody.

Considering that the captain and the crew have no fixed residence in Taiwan, there is a risk of fleeing and colluding with each other's testimony, the court ruled to extend the detention for 2 months starting from November 1 this year.

However, 9 crew members confessed to committing crimes in the preparatory court and negotiated with the prosecutor to plead guilty. Only the captain surnamed Chen still pleaded not guilty.

The Qiaotou District Court recently pronounced the sentence on the part of the 9 crew members who pleaded guilty. The 9 crew members were sentenced to 1 year in prison, suspended for 2 years, and will be deported after the prosecution implements security measures.