The nine applicants herein (the applicants) who are Thai nationals were charged and acquitted in the magistrate court on the following charge:

Bahawa kamu semua pada 9 Januari 1993, jam lebih kurang 12.10

tengahari, di dalam vesel penangkapan ikan asing yang bernama Thwilap

21, di kedudukan Lat 05 degree 07.64 Utara dan Long 99 degree 14.89

Timur, jarak 60.00 batu nautikal dari Pulau Pinang, di dalam negeri

Pulau Pinang, di perairan Perikanan Malaysia, telah didapati menangkap

ikan tanpa kebenaran perjanjian antara kerajaan Malaysia, dan permit

dari Ketua Pengarah Perikanan Malaysia, maka dengan ini kamu semua

telah melakukan kesalahan di bawah seksyen 15(l)(a), Akta Perikanan

1985 dan boleh dihukum di bawah seksyen 25(a), Akta yang sama.

The applicants have now applied to this court under ss 323(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to review the decision of the learned magistrate who, on 18 November 1993, after acquitting the applicants of the said charge had made an order under s 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code, upon application of the prosecuting officer for all the applicants to be released on bail