Thai fishing industry starting to clean up: UN

PHNOM PENH • Fishermen in Thailand remain at risk of forced labour, and the identity documents and wages of some continue to be withheld, despite pressure from major retailers to clean up the industry, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) said.

But the ILO said in a report on Wednesday that conditions overall had improved. Thailand's multibillion-dollar seafood sector has come under scrutiny in recent years after investigations showed slavery, trafficking and violence on fishing boats and at onshore processing facilities.

REUTERS

Indonesia to hand over luxury yacht to US

JAKARTA • Indonesia is making preparations to hand over a luxury yacht seized in Bali last month to United States authorities targeting assets allegedly bought with money siphoned off from a Malaysian state fund, a police official said yesterday.

The Cayman Islands-flagged Equanimity was impounded by Indonesia amid a multi-billion dollar corruption investigation launched by the US Department of Justice and tied to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state fund.

Mr Daniel Silitonga, deputy director of economic and special crimes at Indonesia's criminal investigation bureau said yesterday the police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation were "preparing paperwork" for a handover of the ship.

REUTERS

Rappler news site faces criminal complaint

MANILA • The Philippines' tax bureau filed a criminal complaint yesterday accusing news site Rappler and two executives of evading 133.8 million pesos (S$3.4 million) in tax, the latest move against a network whose reporting has irritated the government.

The case comes eight weeks after the Securities and Exchange Commission rescinded Rappler's operating licence for violating foreign ownership rules. Rappler continues to operate pending an appeal and says it has done nothing wrong.

REUTERS