Indonesian military officers face up to 15 years for human smuggling

[News_Editor]

Indonesian military officers face up to 15 years for human smuggling

2012-02-16 11:43:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Five military officers and a civil servant are facing up to 15 years in prison for their alleged role in human smuggling which led to the deaths of around 200 asylum seekers off the coast of East Java in Indonesia, local media reported on Wednesday.

The officers were named as suspects after an overloaded ship capsized off Prigi in East Java in December 2011, killing around 200 asylum seekers who were attempting to reach Australia. Few details about the allegations have been released, but one official said a letter from the Tulungagung military district commander led to the investigation.

"The letter from the Tulungagung military district commander, regarding the handling of the case of the smuggling of illegal immigrants whose boat sank, stated that there were indications that three officers were involved in the incident," said Murdjito, Chief of the Brawijaya Military Command, as quoted by the Jakarta Globe.

Murdjito, who said a subsequent investigation had turned up two more suspects, said the officers will be fired from the force if they are found guilty and sentenced to more than 4 months in prison. The case of the civil servant has been handed over to the East Java Police as military police are unable to prosecute civilians.

According to the Jakarta Globe, Murdjito said the shocking case must serve as a reminder to further step up supervision. "We have coordinated with headquarters to anticipate and prevent similar cases from happening in other areas in Kalimantan, Sulawesi and elsewhere, especially attempts to smuggle immigrants from the west side," he said, as quoted by the newspaper.

Last year, Indonesia passed a law against people-smuggling as thousands of asylum seekers travel through Indonesia in their attempts to reach Australia. The new law imposed prison terms of up to 15 years and a large fine for those found guilty of helping to transport asylum seekers into the country.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-16

[tutsiwarrior]

Only fools believe any of these pigs will be convicted.

In Indo you don't f##k with the army...it's a state within a state.

quite true, unfortunately...civilians only run the place with their consent...their brutality in Aceh, Timor and Sulawesi makes thai military operations in the south look like a little girl's tea party...