KUCHING: A boat skipper and two crewmen from Vietnam were discharged and acquitted Tuesday from a charge of illegal fishing after the court ruled the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

Sessions Court Judge Mohd Taufik Mohd @ Mohd Yusoff also ordered for the seized fishing vessel belonging to Nguyen Van Dai, Nguyen Phuoc Thuen, Ngo Hoai Hau, to be returned to them.