Four Men Charged Over People Smuggling

29 October 2009



Media Release

Four men charged over people smuggling

Four Indonesian men, who allegedly facilitated a people smuggling venture to
Australia in September 2009 were charged yesterday by the Australian Federal
Police (AFP) with people smuggling offences.
The four men will appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.

The four Indonesian nationals, aged 60, 44, 27 and 25 years, are alleged to be
the crew members of a vessel that arrived in Australia on 16 September 2009.
The AFP will allege in court that the four Indonesian men crewed a vessel as
part of an attempt to smuggle 51 passengers into Australia.

The vessel carrying 51 passengers was intercepted by Royal Australian Navy
vessel, HMAS MAITLAND near Charles Point Light, Northern Territory.
Passengers and crew of the vessel were transported to Christmas Island by
Australian Customs Vessel (ACV) TRITON.
These men take the total crew charged for people smuggling offences since
September 2008 to 57. In addition, four organisers have been arrested and
charged.
The four men will be charged with one count of facilitating the bringing of non-
citizens into Australia (of five or more people) contrary to Section 232A of the
Migration Act 1958.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years imprisonment or a $220,000
fine.
Media enquiries
AFP National Media Team
Phone: (02) 6275 7100






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