SANDAKAN: A Filipino man who jumped into the sea from a boat was arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) off Tanah Merah in Sandakan waters here last night.
Sandakan MMEA commander Captain Zainudin Mohd Zuki said an MMEA boat was on patrol about 8.30pm when it spotted a boat.
As it approached the boat, the latter sped off towards Tanjung Batu and the MMEA team spotted someone throwing eight containing, believed to have contained about 200l of fuel, into the sea.
"Two suspects aboard the boat jumped into the sea. A 41-year-old man, believed to be a Filipino citizen, was successfully rescued, but the other could not be located.
"The boat, equipped with two engines with 40 horsepower each, was successfully stopped and seized at 9.15pm, 1.38 nautical miles southeast of Tanah Merah, Sandakan.
"All seized items were brought to the Maritime Zone Jetty in Sandakan and handed over to investigating officers," Zainudin said in a statement.
He said the case was being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for transporting controlled items without a valid permit.
It will also be probed under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for possessing and presenting doubtful identity documents, and the Penal Code for obstructing public servants from carrying out their duties.