Indonesian man in Australian court for people smuggling
The Associated Press, Darwin, Australia | Mon, 06/01/2009 3:19 PM
An Indonesian man appeared in court in Australia on Monday, charged with smuggling nearly 50 Afghan asylum seekers on a boat that exploded in the Indian Ocean, killing five.
Mohamad Tahir - who faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted of people smuggling - did not enter a plea at the Darwin Magistrates Court. His lawyer, Ambrith Abayasekara, did not ask for him to be released on bail.
The charges allege that Tahir was a crew member on the boat and was involved in smuggling 47 asylum seekers from Indonesia to Australia.
The small wooden boat exploded on April 15 hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the Australian mainland, killing five asylum seekers and injuring 40 others.
The government has refused to speculate on the cause of the explosion, but some officials say the boat was doused in gasoline just before the blast. Police have not said whether they intend to charge anyone over the explosion and deaths.
Tahir will remain in custody until he appears for a preliminary hearing on July 13.
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