ID :
141877
Mon, 09/13/2010 - 22:21
Auther :

HUNDREDS OF SUSPECTED INDONESIAN PEOPLE SMUGGLERS JAILED IN A'LIA



Kupang, E. Nusa Tenggara, Sept 13 (ANTARA) - Approximately 250 Indonesians are currently imprisoned in Australia for suspected involvement in people smuggling from East Nusatenggara (NTT) to Australia , a local resident said.
Yosef Lema (44), a Kupang resident, said here Monday he had received the information recently from a friend in Australia.
He said most of the jailed Indonesians hailed from Rote Ndao district and Kupang city.
They were arrested and imprisoned on the charge of having smuggled illegal immigrants into Australian teritorial waters.

Meanwhile, Moon Bagarai, head of Kupang city immigration office's operations and enforcement unit, said he had received information confirming Yosef's story. But the immigration offfice was still trying to find out what would happen further with the Indonesian detainees in Australia.

It was strongly believed, Moon said, the suspected people smugglers had helped a number of illegal foreign immigrants to escape from the immigration detention center in Kupang, as such escapes had indeed happened, most of them last August.

He said ,since last August 13, 44 of the 182 illegal immigrants being held at Kupang's immigration detention center had escaped from the center in several small groups by jumping over a 7-meter-high wall.
Of the 44 escapees, 23 were later recaptured while the remaining 21 illegals were still on the run.
On August 24, 17 other illegals managed to break out from the detention center but 14 of them were eventually recaught.
Moon said it was strongly believed the illegals were able to escape with the help of outsiders, namely local residents who also provided boats for the illegals to travel to Australia.

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