PIRATES SHOT DEAD THAI FISHERMAN

PENANG (Malaysia), April 26 (Bernama) -- A Thai fisherman was killed when a
group of men, believed to be pirates, attacked a fishing boat seven nautical
miles off Gertak Sanggul here Sunday night.

Gertak Sanggul (Bun bullying) is a settlement of Malay near Balik Pulau,
northern Penang state in Peninsular Malaysia .



Barat Daya OCPD Supt Hatta Md Zin said the victim, Aung Sirichai, 24, of
Ranong, Thailand was hit three times on his hip and died on the way to the Batu
Maung fish landing here.

He said the victim and four other fishermen, also from Thailand, were
fishing in the area when a small boat with seven men onboard approached them.

"One of the men fired four shots, hitting the victim on his hip," he said.

Three of the attackers then boarded the fishermen's boat but hopped back
into their boat and fled the scene upon seeing the victim sprawled in a pool of
blood and in pain.


Police received information about the attack at 10.50pm.

Hatta said police believed the attackers were pirates who wanted to rob the
fishermen of their catch and belongings.

One of the fishermen managed to take down the registration number of the
attackers' boat.

A victim, known only as Arshat, 36, said they suspected the group to be from
Indonesia based on their look.

"All of a sudden the boat came towards us and one of them opened fire," he
said.

-- BERNAMA



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