(LAWFUEL) – Australian Federal Police have today charged two Indonesian nationals with people smuggling offences under the Migration Act.
The first, a 58-year-old man was the captain of a vessel that arrived at a production offshore storage facility in the Timor Sea on 6 October.
The second, a male whose age is yet to be confirmed, was a crew member on the vessel.
It will be alleged in court that the captain and crew member were part of an attempted people smuggling venture that originated in Indonesia.
There were 17 people on board the vessel when it was detected, comprising a crew of three and 14 passengers.
The captain and crew member were charged with organising bringing a group of non-citizens into Australia (5 or more people) contrary to Section 232A of The Migration Act 1958.
They are expected to be extradited to Perth to face court on Monday, 20 October.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 20 years imprisonment
