On December 16, a source from Kawthaung Province, Myanmar, reported the court ruling on a case involving four Thai crew members. They were apprehended by a Myanmar military vessel along with 28 Myanmar crew members and had their fishing boat seized near Koh Yan Cheuk in Kawthaung Province on November 30, while fishing in disputed waters.
The Kawthaung court sentenced the boat owner to six years in prison: five years for illegal fishing in Myanmar's territorial waters without authorization and one year for illegal entry into the country. The court also imposed a fine of 200,000 kyat.
The three other Thai crew members each received a four-year sentence: three years for illegal fishing and one year for illegal entry. They were each fined 30,000 kyat.