KOTA KINABALU: Two men were nabbed after they were suspected of stealing scrap metal from an abandoned cargo vessel at Pulau Daat in Labuan.

       The two suspects were on a wooden boat when maritime officials noticed them at around 9.30pm, Thursday (Jan 11).

       Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director for Labuan, Izwanhadi Idros said maritime officials were conducting patrols at the time, when they noticed the two men acting suspiciously.

       “An inspection on the men and the vessel they were on led to the discovery of scrap metal believed stolen from an abandoned cargo vessel,” he said in a statement, Saturday (Jan 13).

       Both men were also found to be undocumented while there was also no operating license for the vessel, he said.

       Izwanhadi said the suspect, boat and scrap metal were brought back to the Labuan Maritime Jetty for further investigation and action.

       This case is being investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.

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       Both suspects could be fined if found guilty under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance and jailed, whipped or both, upon conviction under the Immigration Act, said Izwanhadi.