Indonesia uses new people-smuggling laws

A man arrested for allegedly attempting to send 101 asylum seekers by boat to Australia is set to become the first person charged in Indonesia under new laws that criminalise people smuggling.
The laws, passed in April as part of a broad bill that overhauled much of the country's immigration system, introduced tough penalties of up to 15 years in prison for people convicted of people-smuggling offences.
Maroloan Jonnes Baringbing, the head of Banten Province Immigration Office, said the laws were now set to be applied for the first time in relation to an alleged people smuggler arrested on May 24 in Banten, on the western tip of Java.
Authorities have already begun processing the man, who has not been identified.
He was arrested along with a minor and remains in custody in Banten.
"There's one people smuggler suspect arrested about two weeks ago... well, actually there's another one but he's a minor ... trying to bring 101 people from Banten to Australia," Mr Baringbing told AAP on Tuesday.
"We will use (the law) for the first time."
The asylum seekers, from Afghanistan and Iran, are now being held in a detention centre at Tanjung Pinang on the island of Bintan in Sumatra, as well as in Jakarta.
In the past, criminal syndicates were able to operate in Indonesia with little concern for being caught.
Without any laws in place that criminalised people smuggling, at most they were often charged with minor offences such as facilitating illegal immigration and forging documents - charges which carried only light penalties.
Mr Baringbing said authorities were pleased they could now pursue people smugglers under the tough new laws, which were first flagged in 2002.
"We're glad with this new law because previously, lots of people smuggler suspects were caught but they got away by law," he said.
"They even were set free by the Supreme Court in their appeals."
Indonesia is the key departure point for asylum-seeker boats heading to Australia.
Minister for Justice Brendan O'Connor said on Tuesday that exercising of Indonesia's laws was a matter for Indonesia.
"But what I can say is that we welcome Indonesia's new anti-people smuggling laws," he said.
"The new laws send a strong message to people smugglers that their actions are criminal and they will be prosecuted for luring men, women and children onto unseaworthy boats - taking their life savings and sometimes their lives."
"Coupled with the strong action that the Indonesian National Police have taken to intercept ventures, Indonesia is sending a strong message to people smugglers."
The laws were passed by the Indonesian parliament on April 7 but did not come into force until May 5.
They also introduced new restrictions on refugees which only allow them to stay in Indonesia for a maximum of 10 years before being deported.