The Darwin Local Court continues to be busy with the cases of Indonesian fishermen apprehended in Australian waters, with almost two hundred having faced charges there since July last year.
The latest round of convictions saw eighteen Indonesian nationals plead guilty following three interceptions off Northern Territory and Western Australia in April. Dried fish, salt. phones and GPS devices were seized, along with a variety of fishing gears. The boats were all destroyed at sea before the crews were delivered to Darwin to face charges.
The skipper of one boat was released on a $3000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of three years. The skipper of the remaining two vessels were released on $3000 undertakings for a period of two years.
One crewman was identified as having been released on a good behaviour undertaking in January 2025 for similar offending. On the current matter, he was released on a further $2000 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of three years. Another was identified as having been released on a good behaviour undertaking in November 2024. On the current matter, he was released on a further $3500 undertaking to be of good behaviour for a period of four years.
Thirteen fishermen were released on $500 undertakings to be of good behaviour for a period of two years.
All of the Indonesian fishermen facing the court are to be deported at the earliest opportunity.
