Shipowners Alleges Indonesian Navy Asks Money To Release Ships

Over a dozen shipowners paid about $300,000 apiece to the Indonesian navy to get their ships released. Reportedly, the ships were illegally anchored near Singapore in Indonesian waters. As per the shipowners, payments were given in cash to naval officials or by bank transfer to intermediaries. ''It's not true that the Indonesian navy received or asked for payment to release the ships,'' said Arsyad Abdullah, Indonesian naval fleet commander.