SHIPS AS EVIDENCE IN FISHERIES CRIME CASES

To support law enforcement against illegal fishing in Indonesia, the Supreme Court has issued Circular Letter No. 1 of 2015 on Ships as Evidence in Fisheries Crime Cases (“CL 1/2015”). Under CL 1/2015,where a ship has been seized by investigators as evidence in a fisheries crime, the investigators must obtain approval from the Chief Justice of the relevant court before destroying or auctioning the ship. If the fisheries crime case is currently in the court system or being tried by a Panel of Judges, the investigators must obtain approval from the Head of the relevant court or Panel of Judges.