Post date: May 20, 2013 11:50:40 AM
Prosecutors say Afghan Sayeed Abbas, accused of people smuggling, is eligible for extradition to Australia.
JAKARTA, INDONESIA (MAY 20, 2013) (REUTERS) - Afghan Sayeed Abbas, accused of smuggling people heading to Australia, appeared in court during an ongoing extradition hearing in Jakarta on Monday (May 20).
Abbas has been held in Indonesia since 2010 for alleged people smuggling and the harbouring of foreign nationals.Abbas is wanted in Australia on a string of charges that include arranging a boat to carry asylum seekers in 2011 which sank, killing 200 people on board.
Australia has been asking for Abbas' extradition since 2010, but lawyers for Abbas say that because their client is not Indonesian nor Australian, the extradition treaty laws between the two countries do not apply.
Monday, the prosecution argued that Abbas' case should be an exception.
"The extradition treaty between Indonesia and Australia says that a person could be extradited based on the special policy made by respective countries," said Juwita. "The treaty also said, if the jail sentence of the offender is of at least a year in either Indonesia or Australia for the crime, then he can be extradited," she added.
The hearing has been adjourned until next week.
Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island, south of Indonesia, is a popular destination for asylum seekers, who travel by often crowded boats from Indonesia, with the help of people smugglers.