Three Timorese jailed in Australia

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Three people from the province are locked up in the West Australian town of Broome for allegedly helping aliens illegally enter Australia, a press report said yesterday.

The Pos Kupang daily said the three allegedly helped "smuggle" 12 immigrants into the country from Iraq, Iran and Jordan via Kupang earlier this month.

The illegal immigrants are currently detained in Port Hedland, in the north of Western Australia.

The three from East Nusa Tenggara, are Anton, 34, from Kupang, Haji Safrudin, 45, from Ende and Effendi, 37, from Rote.

They reportedly admitted to working for a Kupang-based syndicate specializing in smuggling people into Australia. (yac)