Pekanbaru, Riau Province (ANTARA News) – A group of pirates robbed a Liberian-flagged motor vessel when it was sailing in Rupat Strait of Dumai waters, Riau Province, the Riau Police stated.

“The robbery took place last weekend at 2:45 a.m.,” stated Director of Riau Water Police Senior Commissioner Lukas Gunawan during an interview with ANTARA here, on Wednesday.

According to Lukas, the pirates, assumed to be about five of them, approached the ship on a speedboat.

The pirates, noted Lukas, attached the speedboat to the ship and then climbed onto the vessel using a bamboo stair.

The robbers entered the machine room and held two technicians, Udalyakh Andry of Ukraine and Montalban from Philippines, captive.

“The robbers then forced the crew to escort them to the store room. The pirates took away several Yanmar (brand) ship spare parts, totaling to about 59 items in 750 packs,” Lukas pointed out.

The total loss from the incident is estimated at Rp250 million.

The Police, Lukas added, have interrogated the two crew members and the ship owner, Yang Kuk Hyon.

“The Police is still investigating the piracy incident and will pursue the hijacker,” Lukas asserted.

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/