VietNamNet Bridge – Fourteen Vietnamese fishermen attacked by pirates on May 15 returned safely to Sa Ky Port in central Quang Ngai Province on Monday after receiving assistance from Malaysia.

Their fishing boat, coded QNg 90847 TS, left Sa Ky Port in Binh Chau District on April 8, said Captain Nguyen Quyet Chien from Border Guard Station 288 of Quang Ngai province.

According to the boat's captain Nguyen Tan Luan, five pirates then ambushed his boat on May 15. They shot and injured two of the crew.

The pirates also stripped the boat of necessary equipment, including three locators, one depth sounder, two walkie-talkies and six oil barrels. In addition, their hoard included more than VND50 million (US$2,500) in cash and the boat's entire catch, worth almost VND700 million ($35,000), said Chien.

The boat was later led by a Malaysian fishing vessel to the Malaysian port of Kudat where the wounded were treated. Local authorities then helped the captain and crew return home. They departed Malaysia on May 17.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News