Australia wants to charge man jailed in Indonesia<\/p>\n
Reuters, Canberra<\/p>\n
Australian police said on Monday they were ready to start pushing
\nfor the extradition of an Egyptian wanted in connection with a
\nvoyage from Indonesia to Australia on which hundreds of asylum
\nseekers drowned.<\/p>\n
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty said
\nin a statement that a fresh warrant had been issued for the
\narrest of Abu Quassey, who is in jail in Indonesia for visa
\nviolations and due to be released in January.<\/p>\n
But as Australia has no agreement with Indonesia on dual
\ncriminality for people smuggling, it is working with other law
\nenforcement agencies in the region to apprehend Abu Quassey and
\nbring him to Australia to face charges.<\/p>\n
\"The swearing of the first-instance warrants means an Interpol
\nalert can be issued and it will ensure the AFP is in a position,
\nthrough the Attorney-General, to seek to extradite Mr. Quassey
\nshould circumstances allow,\" Keelty said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The latest warrant was issued on Friday in relation to the
\norganization of the voyage of a boat on which 353 mostly Afghan
\nand Iraqi nationals drowned in October 2001.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has no law governing human trafficking. Abu Quassey,
\nalso known as Mootaz Muhammad Hasan, was jailed in Indonesia for
\nsix months on visa violations and is due for release on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
Keelty said there were now four first-instance arrest warrants
\nsworn in respect to Quassey for alleged offenses relating to
\npeople smuggling into Australia.<\/p>\n
An Australian police spokeswoman said Abu Quassey could not be
\ndirectly extradited from Indonesia but she added that Australia
\nwas working with other law enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n
Keelty said Abu Quassey was suspected of being involved in
\npeople smuggling from Indonesia to Australia since early 2000,
\nfirst as a provider of passengers to other established organizers
\nin Indonesia and then as an organizer of trips himself.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, with its porous borders, is a stepping stone for
\nMiddle East and Afghan asylum seekers trying to go to Australia.<\/p>\n
Australia cracked down hard on illegal migration 16 months
\nago, and convicted people smugglers now face up to 20 years in
\njail.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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