The imprisonment of crew members by Indonesia is being protested by an oil tanker operator

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

The captain of an oil ship detained by Indonesian authorities at Cambodia's request is contesting the incarceration of his crew, calling it a breach of human rights.

The crew members, who have been detained by Indonesian Marine Police for questioning since Friday, are innocent of any misconduct, according to World Tankers Management, the Singapore-based operator of the MT Strovolos.

The tanker was detained by Indonesian naval forces in late July at the request of Cambodia, which said it was wanted for stealing over 300,000 barrels of crude oil.

 

The crew is being questioned in regard to the Cambodian government's accusation, according to Harry Goldenhardt, a police spokeswoman in Indonesia's Riau Islands region.
According to him, police have confiscated the tanker as well as the crude oil as evidence.

In a statement, World Tankers Management said, "It is understood that this police action followed an intervention by the Cambodian government, which alleges the cargo was carried illegally."

 

“This claim is without merit and is categorically denied.
The crew members are still being held in custody and are being interrogated in shifts ashore.
The team is an innocent victim of Cambodia's government's unjust conduct in violation of their human rights, according to the statement.

It said Cambodia had failed to give confirmation of ownership of the oil on board the ship and sought the Indonesian government to order the crew's immediate release.

After finding the skipper of the tanker, a Bangladesh national, guilty of anchoring the tanker in Indonesian land without permission, a court sentenced him to 15 days in prison and fined him 100 million rupiah ($7,000).