Indonesian people-smuggler jailed for six years<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The frail 81-year-old Indonesian captain of an unseaworthy
\nvessel which carried more than 150 asylum seekers to Australia
\nlast year has been jailed for six years, a report said on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Madi Lena Samsudin must spend at least three years behind bars
\nin Australia before being eligible for parole, AFP quoted the
\nPerth-based West Australian daily as saying.<\/p>\n
Samsudin, who had pleaded guilty to bringing 154 asylum
\nseekers, mainly from Iraq, Iran, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, into
\nAustralia last November, was sentenced on Tuesday in the
\nAustralian District Court.<\/p>\n
The maximum penalty for the offense is 20 years' jail or an A$
\n220,000 (US$121,000) fine.<\/p>\n
The court heard that Samsudin ignored repeated warnings to
\nreturn to Indonesian waters and continued towards Ashmore Reef,
\noff the north-west coast of the Australian mainland, where the
\nboat broke down.<\/p>\n
The Australian Navy spent three days trying to repair the
\ncrippled engine, the court heard.<\/p>\n
Witnesses said most of the original 10-member crew had left
\nthe boat, the Senar Buntung 111, in Lombok island, while Samsudin
\nand two others continued towards Australia.<\/p>\n
Passengers paid between US$550 and US$3,300 for the sea
\njourney from Indonesia, from which Samsudin stood to earn a total
\nof about US$200 and get ownership of the boat on his return.<\/p>\n
Judge Lindy Jenkins said while Samsudin was not a people-
\ntrafficker, he had facilitated the voyage.<\/p>\n
She accepted passengers had taken control of the boat and
\nwould not let him turn it around once it reached Australian
\nwaters.<\/p>\n
\"As captain of the vessel you (Samsudin) were pivotal to the
\nsuccess of the trip,\" the judge said.<\/p>\n
\"The lives of 150 people were put at risk by your being
\nwilling to transport them in a vessel that was mechanically
\nunsound and which did not have adequate lifesaving equipment on
\nwhat was essentially a secret trip so that emergency authorities
\nwould be unaware if the boat got into difficulties.<\/p>\n
\"Your motive for acting as captain was to obtain what was
\nsubstantial capital for you (equal to a year's income).\"<\/p>\n
She took into account a medical report describing him as a
\nfrail, aged man.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-people-smuggler-jailed-for-six-years-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}