Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Noboru Sakashita, the captain of the crab fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, attends a hearing at the South Kuril District Court in Yuzhno-Kurilsk on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island on Sept. 21. The Russian court ordered him to pay about 500,000 rubles ($12,700, or 2.2 million yen) in fines and damages for intruding into and poaching in Russian-claimed territorial waters just off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido in mid-August.

3 Japanese fishermen on Russian-held Kunashiri Island

3 Japanese fishermen on Russian-held Kunashiri Island

TOKYO, Japan - Three Japanese fishermen -- (From L to R) Noboru Sakashita, captain of the fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, Haruki Kamiya and Akiyoshi Kawamura -- are seen detained at a facility on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island. The photo was taken on Aug. 18 by a local newspaper under permission of Russian authorities.

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

Russian court imposes fine on Japanese fishing boat skipper

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia - Noboru Sakashita, the captain of the crab fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, attends a hearing at the South Kuril District Court in Yuzhno-Kurilsk on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island on Sept. 21. The Russian court ordered him to pay about 500,000 rubles ($12,700, or 2.2 million yen) in fines and damages for intruding into and poaching in Russian-claimed territorial waters just off Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido in mid-August. (Kyodo)

Japanese doctor examines detained skipper's health on Kunashiri

Japanese doctor examines detained skipper's health on Kunashiri

MOSCOW, Russia - A Japanese doctor examines Noboru Sakashita (lying on the bed), the skipper of a Japanese fishing boat in custody on Kunashiri Island for alleged illegal border crossing and poaching in Russian waters. On Aug. 16, the Russian border guard shot at and seized the 4.9-ton Kisshin Maru No. 31 in disputed waters near Russian-administered Kaigara Island off Hokkaido, resulting in the death of one of the crewmen. (Kyodo)

3 Japanese fishermen on Russian-held Kunashiri Island

3 Japanese fishermen on Russian-held Kunashiri Island

TOKYO, Japan - Three Japanese fishermen -- (From L to R) Noboru Sakashita, captain of the fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31, Haruki Kamiya and Akiyoshi Kawamura -- are seen detained at a facility on the Russian-held Kunashiri Island. The photo was taken on Aug. 18 by a local newspaper under permission of Russian authorities. (Kyodo)