KUALA LUMPUR: The Chinese Embassy said a fair investigation in accordance with the law must be carried out following the detainment of a Chinese vessel by Malaysian authorities in connection with the alleged plundering of sunken World War 2 era British shipwrecks.
In a statement today, the embassy said based on available information, the ship operated in Malaysian waters under the employment of a local Malaysian company. "We hope the Malaysian side would handle the case justly in accordance with the law, earnestly protect the security and lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and report the progress of the investigation in a timely manner," the statement read.
It was previously reported that the China-registered ship had been detained on Monday by local authorities for plundering the HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales that sank in Malaysian waters in 1941.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) caught up with the barge when it anchored illegally at 20.1 nautical miles east of Tanjung Siang off the coast of Johor.
The vessel along with a crew complement of 32, including Chinese nationals and Bangladeshis, was detained by the MMEA Tanjung Sedili maritime zone at noon for anchoring illegally. Also detained by the authorities was a Malaysian onboard the salvage ship.
When the vessel was boarded by the patrol team, the crew members failed to present any anchoring permission from the marine director-general.
The barge was also found carrying metals and armaments believed to be from the sunken British warship.