Australia wants to charge man jailed in Indonesia
Australia wants to charge man jailed in Indonesia
Reuters, Canberra
Australian police said on Monday they were ready to start pushing for the extradition of an Egyptian wanted in connection with a voyage from Indonesia to Australia on which hundreds of asylum seekers drowned.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty said in a statement that a fresh warrant had been issued for the arrest of Abu Quassey, who is in jail in Indonesia for visa violations and due to be released in January.
But as Australia has no agreement with Indonesia on dual criminality for people smuggling, it is working with other law enforcement agencies in the region to apprehend Abu Quassey and bring him to Australia to face charges.
"The swearing of the first-instance warrants means an Interpol alert can be issued and it will ensure the AFP is in a position, through the Attorney-General, to seek to extradite Mr. Quassey should circumstances allow," Keelty said in a statement.
The latest warrant was issued on Friday in relation to the organization of the voyage of a boat on which 353 mostly Afghan and Iraqi nationals drowned in October 2001.
Indonesia has no law governing human trafficking. Abu Quassey, also known as Mootaz Muhammad Hasan, was jailed in Indonesia for six months on visa violations and is due for release on Jan. 1.
Keelty said there were now four first-instance arrest warrants sworn in respect to Quassey for alleged offenses relating to people smuggling into Australia.
An Australian police spokeswoman said Abu Quassey could not be directly extradited from Indonesia but she added that Australia was working with other law enforcement agencies.
Keelty said Abu Quassey was suspected of being involved in people smuggling from Indonesia to Australia since early 2000, first as a provider of passengers to other established organizers in Indonesia and then as an organizer of trips himself.
Indonesia, with its porous borders, is a stepping stone for Middle East and Afghan asylum seekers trying to go to Australia.
Australia cracked down hard on illegal migration 16 months ago, and convicted people smugglers now face up to 20 years in jail.