Suspected people-smuggler released, faces deportation<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
An Egyptian man whom Australia suspects of involvement in a
\nship accident that drowned hundreds of asylum seekers heading for
\nits shores was released from prison on Wednesday and faces
\ndeportation.<\/p>\n
Egyptian Abu Quassey walked free after spending six months in
\nprison for visa violations. Immigration officials picked him up
\nupon his release.<\/p>\n
"He will be held for the moment before being deported," said
\none immigration official, as quoted by Reuters. He declined to
\nsay for how long Quassey would be held.<\/p>\n
Australia has issued an international arrest warrant against
\nQuassey over the death of 353 asylum seekers after their ship
\ndrowned on its way from Indonesia to Australia in October 2001.
\nOf the mainly Iraqi and Afghan nationals on board, only 44
\nsurvived.<\/p>\n
Although most of the survivors blamed people-smugglers for the
\naccident, the government has filed no criminal charges against
\nQuassey in the absence of a law against people-smuggling.<\/p>\n
Australia's request that he be extradited, however, was
\nrejected.<\/p>\n
Jakarta reportedly only agreed to extradite Quassey if
\nAustralia handed over former banker Hendra Rahardja. Hendra is
\nwanted here on corruption charges and for avoiding accountability
\nfor the debts of the now defunct Bank Harapan Sentosa (BHS) and
\nBang Guna International.<\/p>\n
In December last year, the Australian police said they would
\nboost efforts with law enforcement agencies in the region to
\nextradite Quassey.<\/p>\n
It said Quassey was wanted for cases of people-smuggling
\ndating back since early 2000. He allegedly organized the illegal
\ntrips to Australia himself.<\/p>\n
Quassey, 29, claims to be a Turkish national, and is married
\nto an Iraqi woman with whom he has one child.<\/p>\n
He was unaware that he was wanted in Australia. And contrary
\nto a television interview last year, he denied involvement in
\npeople-smuggling.<\/p>\n
"I don't feel I am guilty (of people smuggling). It wasn't me
\nwho brought the people to the ship," Quassey was quoted as saying
\nby AP. According to him, he may be held for another week.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is a key passage for asylum seekers from the Middle
\nEast heading for Australia. Indonesia's vast territory, a poorly
\nequipped navy, and immigration officials prone to corruption have
\nmade their movement relatively easy.<\/p>\n
Australia has been pressuring Indonesia to do more to prevent
\nasylum seekers from reaching its shores as part of its tougher
\nstance on illegal aliens.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suspected-people-smuggler-released-faces-deportation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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