The Indonesian Fischer death has settled

• By Hollie Younger / staff author with CNA

The family of an Indonesian fisherman, who died on a Taiwanese fishing boat in 2015, settled with the captain and a crew member yesterday, the Taiwan International Workers Association (Tiwa) said in a press release today.

The 43-year-old Indonesian fisherman, Supriyanto, died on board 25, 2015 on board the Kaohsiung-registered FU Tzu Chun deep-sea fishing ship.

The captain and two crew members were charged because of his death in 2023.

With the support of her lawyers, the family achieved an agreement with the boat captain and the chief engineer, who finished the case after ten years of investigation and legal battles, said Tiwa.

The death of Supriyanto failed to suspect physical abuse, although an investigation by the public prosecutor's office from Pingung District decided that he had died of injuries and an infection after falling on the boat and concluding the investigation in November 2015.

Fisher's Rights Groups, however, submitted a petition to the Yuan control, which led the prosecutors to open the case again in December 2016.

The Tiwa said today that the examination had been pulled long and long and the family of Supriyanto, lawyers and supporting organizations tortured.

On August 23, 2023, only against the boat captain, the chief engineer and another Indonesian fishing fisherman were collected, the Tiwa added.

Boat captain Chen Kai-Chih (陳凱治) was charged with criminal negligence, which led to death according to Article 276 of the Criminal Code, since he did not cause emergency services and took fishing regulations, which led to Suprieyanto's death.

In the meantime, chief engineer Chen Chin-Piao (陳金錶) and Indonesian Fisher Agus Setiawan were charged with violating the body or health of another person in accordance with Article 277 of the Criminal Code due to suspected physical abuse that led to the victim's death.

The public prosecutor also submitted a desired notification for the Indonesian Fisher Munarar Sazali, which may have been involved and still lacks.

The case has caused public outrage and protest and has been in court for ten years, the association said.

It emphasized the lack of protection for human rights and the life of fishermen from migrants who worked on deep ships and attracted attention to themselves.

The association hopes that the compensation would contribute to comforting the grieving family and bringing peace to the deceased.