(LAWFUEL) – Three Indonesian men who allegedly facilitated a people smuggling venture to Australia last December will face Perth Magistrates Court today after they were charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with people smuggling.
The AFP will allege in court this morning the men crewed a vessel as
part of an attempt to smuggle up to 40 passengers into Australia on 2
December 2008.
The Indonesian Nationals, aged 29, 51 and 55 are alleged to be the crew
members and captain of the vessel which was intercepted by the Royal
Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Armidale, operating under the control
of Border Protection Command, within close proximity to Ashmore
Island, Western Australia.
The men were charged by the AFP on Friday afternoon with one count of
facilitating the bringing of non-citizens into Australia (of 5 or more
people) contrary to Section 232A of the Migration Act 1958.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years imprisonment.
