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.