Dili, 28 April 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Baucau Judicial Court of First Instance (TJIPB) issued an order to sell nine (9) tons of fish, which were seized objects confiscated by the UPM from 32 illegal Indonesian fishermen in the southern sea area of Com, Lautem last Friday (18/4).
According to Maritime Police Unit (UPM) Commander, Police Chief Superintendent Eugénio Pereira, the Baucau Court issued the order to carry out a preventive sale of these objects, based on a request from the Lautem Municipal Command through the Baucau Public Prosecutor’s Office to prevent the objects from being damaged.
“Therefore, the Baucau Court agreed with the PNTL Lautem Municipal Command and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to sell the seized objects to the community, so the objects wouldn’t get spoiled. The purpose of this preventive sale is to prevent damage by selling the goods fish.” UPM Commander Eugénio Pereira told journalists at the PNTL General Command in Caicoli this Monday.
He explained, when the joint team seized the vessel, evidence showed the crew did not turn on the generator to store the fish, so the objects were at risk of spoiling with the fish already starting to smell.
“So it could threaten the object itself, and because of that situation, the Maritime Police Unit Command through the Com Post, together with the Lautem Municipal Command, reported the situation to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which submitted a motion to the Court to issue an order. Fortunately, the Court did issue an order for a preventive sale of the object to prevent it from spoiling.” he said.
The Lautem Municipal Command together with the UPM Com Post have already auctioned the fish to the Lautem community, and the money from the preventive sale will be sent to the State Treasury.
In addition, Commander Eugénio said the boat the crew used for illegal fishing has now been brought by the UPM to be docked at the Seonál Maritime Police Headquarters.
Commander Eugénio Pereira said, when the Maritime Police Unit and its working partners seized the vessel, it was actively conducting illegal fishing in the south coast sea area of Com because they were casting fishing nets in the area, so security authorities carried out the seizure.
He said the evidence on the vessel was fishing nets and nothing else.
Report By: Estefania Cardoso
Photo By: Estefania Cardosos