Any person, who willfully and unlawfully injures, or attempts to injure, or acquires, counsels, aids, abets, or be accessory to such injury, or attempt to injure, a submarine cable in a manner which interrupts or embarrass, fully or partly, telegraphic communication, is considered to be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Such person, on conviction is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine not exceeding $5,000. However, at the discretion of the Court, the punishment may be both fine and imprisonment.
However, this is not applicable to a person who injures a cable in an attempt to save the life of himself or of any other person, or to save his own or any other vessel. However, he has to satisfy that he has taken reasonable and rational precautions to avoid such injury.
The master of any fishing vessel who fails to keep his equipments or nets at a distance of at least one nautical mile from a vessel engaged in laying or repairing a cable is considered to be guilty of a crime. On conviction, he shall be liable to imprisonment for a maximum term of ten days, or to a fine not exceeding $250, or both.
