VietNamNet Bridge - According to the foreign media, four Vietnamese crew members who escaped from Taiwan's Ta Hsieh fishing boat on August 8 said that they were used as "modern slaves" on this boat.

Speaking to Radio 1 of Polynesia (France) on August 11, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lebrun, the interpreter for the four Vietnamese crew members said that the four sailors were beaten, tortured as slaves on the Taiwanese ship.

Lebrun said for two years, the four crew members were allowed to go ashore once. They had to work seven days per week, 18 hours per day and were frequently beaten.

One crew member showed Lebrun the scar on his cheek. The sailor said the scar was made by a hook. Another sailor said his leg was wounded after the ship owner hooked his heel and dragged.

Lebrun also said that the sailors’ wages was withheld to cover their accommodation and airfare. Thus, they did work and were beaten like slaves.

On August 8, taking the opportunity when Hsieh Ta ship was pulling another ship near the island of Tahiti, about 800 meters from the coast, four Vietnamese crew members jumped into the sea with their personal items.

They clung to a fishing buoy and were rescued by the Rescue Center of the local port. Then, they were questioned by local police.

According to AFP, on August 11 the procedures were being performed for the four crew members to return to Vietnam.

TTXVN