The National Police said officials are questioning 16 foreign crewmembers of the MT-Courageous cargo ship after they were detained on February 27 on charges of violating Cambodian waters. Police
The National Police said officials are questioning 16 foreign crewmembers of the MT-Courageous cargo ship after they were detained on February 27 on charges of violating Cambodian waters.
In a press release, it said the person in charge of the ship was of Cameroonian nationality and was detained after the ship had dropped anchor at the Regulatory Point between Kaoh Tang and Polowai Island.
The Cameroonian national claimed the ship was ordered to depart from Kaohsiung port of Taiwan on February 15. On February 26, the ship dropped anchor at the Regulatory Point to await its next orders.
The National Police said according to the UN Security Council, the ship had also violated its resolution (Resolution Nº 2375 and 2397 approved in September 2017) which sanctioned the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), prohibiting the transfer of goods to the DPRK.
“The water border guards have now detained the MT-Courageous and sent it to the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court prosecutor for further legal procedures, ” it said.
National Police deputy chief Teng Suon said on Monday that after police had arrested the group on board the MT-Courageous, they were questioned in preparation for the case to be sent to the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court.
Suon said: “The foreigners on board the ship are believed to have violated Cambodian waters and also breached the UN Security Council prohibition,” he said.
National Police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun confirmed that the crew had been sent to Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court.
“The court has decided to continue investigating the case and forward it on to specialists to continue the work. The case is now in the hands of the court,” he said.
He also reassured the public that there was no risk of Covid19 being carried by the foreigners, as a team of doctors had given them a full health check before proceeding with the arrests.
The ship, he said, was in Cambodian waters without permission, and was due to transport goods to cargo boats from North Korea.
Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court prosecutor and spokesperson Lim Bunheng said on Monday that the provincial court had not yet received the case file as police were still questioning them.
“If the case reaches the hands of the court, I will provide confirmation,” he said.
