Noboru Sakashita was indicted earlier this month and has been in custody since August 16.
Photo: Gennady Berezyuk
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Japanese Captain to Pay for Russian Crab
A Japanese fishing boat captain accused of poaching has been fined in the Yuzhno-Kurilsk court, Russia’s Far East. Russian border guards stopped the Kissin Maru vessel on suspicion of poaching last month after a long chase and shooting which killed a Japanese sailor aboard the boat by an accident shot.
Noboru Sakashita was indicted earlier this month and has been in custody since August 16 when his boat was seized. Sakashita was accused of poaching and illegally crossing the Russian border. Russia has estimated the damage from the poaching at 245,000 rubles. Prosecutors wanted a 100,000 rubles fine for an illegal crossing the border and 350,000 for poaching. Besides, Russia has filed a civil suit, seeking damages and confiscation of the vessel.
Sakashita pleaded guilty during the court session, saying: “I deeply regret the incident.”
The court found Kissin Maru’s captain guilty, fining him 250,000 rubles and binding to repair 254,000 rubles of damages. The vessel will also be confiscated as a crime instrument.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 22, 2006
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