SEOUL, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Three Chinese fishermen arrested for poaching by the South Korean coast guard were released and sent home Saturday, government officials said.
A week after the incident in which the Chinese fishing vessel allegedly rammed a coast guard ship, a coast guard spokesman who didn't want to be identified told South Korea's Yonhap news agency there wasn't sufficient evidence to continue holding the men.
"We decided not to indict the crew as they were not actively involved in the crime (poaching) at that time," the spokesman said.
The incident created diplomatic tension between Seoul and Beijing and the release was seen as South Korea's bid to ease it, the report said.
Coast guard officials claimed the 63-ton Chinese trawler rammed a 3,000-ton patrol vessel to stop it from pursuing other Chinese fishing vessels. Video shot by guardsmen showed a brawl in which iron pipes were used as weapons by fishermen.
The captain of the fishing boat died from injuries and another man went overboard and was never found, the report said. Four guardsmen were injured in the fight, officials said.
