Indonesian Navy nab Malaysian ship hijacking suspect

31 August, Jakarta: The Indonesian Navy has detained the suspected mastermind behind the hijacking of Malaysian oil tanker, MT Orkim Harmony. Local English newspaper, The Jakarta Post quoted Navy spokesman Col M. Zainudin as saying the Navy’s Western Fleet Quick Response (WFQR) IV team had nabbed the Indonesian suspect at an apartment in Grogol Petamburan, West Jakarta on Thursday. 

He said yesterday, the man was suspected of being the mastermind behind the hijacking of the Malaysian-flagged vessel. The suspect is currently in custody of the Navy Military Police in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta where he is being questioned. 

The 7,300 deadweight tonne Orkim Harmony was hijacked on June 11 about 30 nautical miles from the Malaysian port of Tanjung Sedili carrying about 50,000 barrels of RON95 fuel. The fuel on the ship was owned by Petronas and operated by Malaysia’s Orkim Ship Management. On board the vessel were a 22-man crew comprising 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar national.