The Indonesian Navy asked to pay 375,000 USD to release the illegally moored oil tanker?

Sources from Reuters said that armed Indonesian Navy personnel had boarded Tankers Nord Joy on May 30 when this train is mooring in the waters of Indonesia, east of the Singapore Strait, one of the busiest waterways in the world.

Indonesian Navy spokesman Julius Widjojono confirmed that Indonesian Navy officers detained the Nord Joy on suspicion that it was anchored in Indonesian waters without a permit, violating Indonesia’s right of navigation and the vessel’s right to navigation. in circulation but does not carry the national flag.

However, Mr. Widjojono denied that Indonesian Navy officers had demanded money to release the Nord Joy, saying such an act was illegal. “This action is strictly prohibited,” Widjojono said, without responding to requests for more details.

“Preliminary information is that (the incident) is still under initial investigation at Batam . naval base“, added Mr. Widjojono.

An Indonesian navy ship at the port of Lhokseumawe in Aceh province. (Photo: Reuters)

Under Indonesian law, anchoring without a permit carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison for the captain and a fine of 200 million rupiah ($13,840), according to Widjojono.

In November 2021, the Indonesian Navy said, the number of cases of arrests for illegally anchoring, deviating from route or stopping midway for an unreasonable period of time has increased.

According to Mr. Widjojono, the aforementioned ships were released due to insufficient evidence or the cases were handled through Indonesian courts and no payment was made to the Indonesian Navy or its personnel. this amount.

Nord Joy is a 183-meter-long Panamanian-flagged vessel that can carry up to 350,000 barrels of petroleum products. Reuters has not yet identified the ship’s owner.

Synergy Group, the Singapore-based company that operates the Nord Joy, did not respond to questions regarding allegations that Indonesian Navy personnel demanded an informal payment.

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