MT Orkim Harmony hijack: Final talks to extradite suspects

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is now in the final round of negotiations with Vietnamese authorities in its bid to extradite eight suspects of the MT Orkim Harmony hijack case in June last year.

MMEA deputy director-general (operations) Maritime Vice-Admiral Datuk Zulkifili Abu Bakar said a team from the agency's criminal investigation branch was now in Hanoi, Vietnam for that purpose.

He said the team comprising four officers and 20 members from a special task force was now prepared to conduct the mission.

"MMEA will ensure that all suspects are brought to Malaysia safe and sound," he said in a statement here, Friday.

The MT Orkim Harmony, which was lost in the waters about 23.5 nautical miles off Tanjung Sedili, Kota Tinggi in Johor on June 12, 2015, carried 22 crew members comprising 16 Malaysians, five Indonesians and a Myanmar.

The oil tanker, carrying about 5,879 metric tonnes of Ron 95 petrol was heading from Melaka to Kuantan.

The eight suspected Indonesian hijackers were arrested by the Vietnamese authorities near Tho Chu Island, southern Vietnam. - BERNAMA