Pirates Rob Petronas Carigali Tug Boat Off Miri Waters

MIRI (Sarawak, Malaysia), July 10 (Bernama) -- Six pirates, all foreigners, robbed 13 crew members of a Petronas Carigali tug boat that was 14 nautical miles off Tanjung Lobang, Miri on Sunday. Miri Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) senior investigating officer Lt (Maritime) Fairusnizan Abdul Razak said during the 8.30pm incident last night, the 13 crew members of the boat, including the captain, suffered losses amounting to RM82,000 (US$25,747). However, no one was injured during the incident, he said. "The masked pirates, using speed boats, were armed with parang," he told Bernama here on Monday adding that it was the first such incident along the Miri waters this year. Fairusnizan said among the valuables lost during the robbery were cash, lap tops, tablets, walkie-talkies, hand phones and food stuff. The tug boat was on its way from an oil rig when the incident happened. -- BERNAMA