NAGASAKI - A Chinese fisherman was repatriated early Friday afternoon after he was given a 6-month suspended sentence plus a fine of 1 million yen (about $13,108) on Jan 31 for illegal operation in Japanese territorial waters, Chinese consulate-general officials said.

The fisherman, Zhong Jinyin, boarded a flight of China Eastern Airlines and left Japan around 13:00 pm local time (0400 GMT), the officials at the Chinese Consulate-General in Nagasaki told Xinhua.

Zhong was sentenced to six months in prison, which was suspended for three years by a local court on January 31.

The fisherman was the captain of a fishing boat that was found carrying out operation in Japanese territorial waters off Goto Islands in southwestern Nagasaki Prefecture by local coast guards.

Zhong was taken to the coast guard office in the city of Nagasaki on December 20 and had been detained there since.

The other 10 crew members on board were brought to the city on the following day. They were released on December 29.

The local court ruled that the fisherman offended the country's fishing order by operating illegally in Japanese territorial waters for coral. Zhong accepted the ruling.

The Chinese consulate-general said it had urged the Japanese authorities to ensure the safety of the Chinese fishermen and make sure their legal rights be protected throughout the case.