Two Indonesians jailed in Australia<\/p>\n
PERTH, Australia (AFP): Two Indonesians have been jailed in
\nWestern Australia for smuggling 140 Middle Eastern boat people
\nfrom Java to Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean.<\/p>\n
Rusdin Ali, 44, received a four-and-a-half year sentence, and
\n21-year-old man Darmondo was imprisoned for three years.<\/p>\n
They were sentenced late Tuesday at the South Hedland District
\nCourt, in Western Australia's northwest.<\/p>\n
The court was told the pair sailed an Indonesian fishing boat
\nequipped with high-tech navigational aids and loaded with Iraqis
\nand Kuwaitis and one Kurd.<\/p>\n
They were arrested when they arrived at Christmas Island,
\nwhich is administered by Australia, on Aug. 13 last year.<\/p>\n
The men claimed in court they had been persuaded to sail the
\nboat after accepting jobs for what they believed was taking a
\ntour boat around the Indonesian islands.<\/p>\n
They said they were approached by a wealthy Arab and an
\nIndonesian and offered about A$1,000 (US$636).<\/p>\n
When they realized they were on a course away from Indonesia,
\nthey said they were threatened with knives by two Iraqis when
\nthey tried to turn the boat around.<\/p>\n
The illegal immigrants had paid an average of A$3,000 to be
\nsmuggled to Australia, the court heard.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-indonesians-jailed-in-australia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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