Thursday, September 24, 2009

Lankan in Aussie court for human smuggling

Two Indonesians and a Sri Lankan have been charged with human smuggling in connection with two of this year's arrivals of asylum seeker boats. Australian Federal Police said the two Indonesian men were alleged to be member of a crew of a vessel that arrived in Australia on August 29 as part of an attempt to smuggle 52 passengers into Australia.
The Sri Lankan was transferred from Christmas Island to Perth on Wednesday in connection with a vessel that arrived in Australia on April 22 as part of an attempt to smuggle 32 passengers into Australia. He is alleged to have organized the human smuggling operation.

All three men have been charged with one count of facilitating the bringing of five or more non-citizens into Australia - a charge that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment or a $220,000 fine.

They were to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court later on Thursday, the AFP said. (The Age)

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