This was announced today by Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, The Star reported today.

He said the eight suspects had arrived in Johor’s Senai Airport from Vietnam at 6am yesterday.

“They were then sent to a Kota Tinggi court, where they will be charged.

“They were detained in Vietnamese waters near Tho Chu Island by Vietnam authorities on June 18, 2015 at about 6.30am where they were found on a life raft. They claimed that they were from a fishing boat that sank,” Puzi was quoted as saying by the daily, adding that the suspects were aged between 21 and 63.

On June 22 last year, the MMEA said it found that 13 criminals were involved in the hijacking of the oil tanker, MT Orkim Harmony, on June 11.

At the time, Puzi had said five of the criminals had used a tugboat to approach the tanker, while the other eight got on to the vessel.

The MT Orkim Harmony was carrying 6,000 tonnes of RON95 petrol worth RM21 million, when it was hijacked.