ID :
23952
Sat, 10/11/2008 - 17:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23952
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RI OFFICIALS YET TO MEET PEOPLE SMUGGLING SUSPECT IN PERTH
Brisbane, Oct 11 (ANTARA) - Australian authorities have yet to permit Indonesian consulate officials in Perth to meet a 35-year-old Indonesian man charged by Australian Federal Police (AFP) with people smuggling under Australia's Migration Act.
"I contacted several parties in Perth, Western Australia, but to date they have yet to give us a positive signal for us to meet the Indonesian man whose identity we also still don't know," an Indonesian consular official in Perth, Andi Bestari, said.
Contacted by phone from here, Bestari said he was still coordinating with Australian authorities about the man said to be the captain of a vessel intercepted by Australia's Border Protection Command on September 29, 2008 near Ashmore Islands.
But he also said he had just met Arief, a teenage crew member of the vessel that had carried 12 asylum seekers from Iran and Afghanistan.
"I have met Arief at the Perth immigration office and he is in the process of being repatriated to Indonesia," Andi Bestari said.
According to local media reports, the Indonesian captain had been removed from Christmas island to Perth to undergo a legal process.
Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans had said, the 35-year-old Indonesian man would face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment if found guilty.
"People smuggling is an abhorrent crime, and the maximum penalty for the offense of organizing to bring a group of five or more non-citizens into Australia is 20 years' imprisonment."
AFP and the Australian immigration service had yet to disclose the identity of the Indonesian captain but an AFP media release quoted Senator Chris Evans as saying the teenage crew member on the vessel would be repatriated to Indonesia.
Senator Evans said the government's commitment to border security was firm and resolute and it would continue to take robust measures to protect Australia's borders.
"People smuggling undermines Australia's borders and the integrity of its immigration system and the government will continue to deal resolutely with unauthorized boat arrivals," Senator Evans said.
"I contacted several parties in Perth, Western Australia, but to date they have yet to give us a positive signal for us to meet the Indonesian man whose identity we also still don't know," an Indonesian consular official in Perth, Andi Bestari, said.
Contacted by phone from here, Bestari said he was still coordinating with Australian authorities about the man said to be the captain of a vessel intercepted by Australia's Border Protection Command on September 29, 2008 near Ashmore Islands.
But he also said he had just met Arief, a teenage crew member of the vessel that had carried 12 asylum seekers from Iran and Afghanistan.
"I have met Arief at the Perth immigration office and he is in the process of being repatriated to Indonesia," Andi Bestari said.
According to local media reports, the Indonesian captain had been removed from Christmas island to Perth to undergo a legal process.
Meanwhile, Australian Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans had said, the 35-year-old Indonesian man would face a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment if found guilty.
"People smuggling is an abhorrent crime, and the maximum penalty for the offense of organizing to bring a group of five or more non-citizens into Australia is 20 years' imprisonment."
AFP and the Australian immigration service had yet to disclose the identity of the Indonesian captain but an AFP media release quoted Senator Chris Evans as saying the teenage crew member on the vessel would be repatriated to Indonesia.
Senator Evans said the government's commitment to border security was firm and resolute and it would continue to take robust measures to protect Australia's borders.
"People smuggling undermines Australia's borders and the integrity of its immigration system and the government will continue to deal resolutely with unauthorized boat arrivals," Senator Evans said.
