Seven Men Charged Over People Smuggling

19 October 2009



Media Release

Seven men charged over people smuggling

Seven Indonesian men have been charged by the Australian Federal Police
(AFP) with people smuggling offences.

Three of the men will appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.

Today the AFP will allege in court that the three Indonesian men crewed two
separate vessels as part of an attempt to smuggle 146 passengers into
Australia.

All three men have been charged by the AFP 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.

This follows on from the appearance in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday of
four Indonesian men also charged by the AFP with people smuggling offences.

The seven Indonesian Nationals are alleged to be the crew members of two
separate vessels (SIEV 51 and SIEV 52) that arrived in Australia on 12
September 2009.

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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