National media release
Man charged with people smuggling
Friday, 05 February 2010
An Indonesian man has been charged with people smuggling offences after the alleged attempt to facilitate the arrival of 50 people to Australia.
The 50-year-old man will appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the man with one count of facilitating the bringing of non-citizens into Australia (of five or more people), contrary to Section 232A of the Migration Act 1958.
The man arrived on 14 November 2009 on a vessel that was intercepted by the Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Broome, operating under the control of Customs and Border Protection Command, south west of Ashmore Island.
The man brings the total number of people charged by the AFP with people smuggling offences since September 2008 to 94.
The maximum penalty for people smuggling offences is 20 years imprisonment and/or a $220,000 fine.
Media enquiries:
AFP Media (Canberra): (02) 6275 7100