Three Australians guilty of illegal entry into Indonesia
Quick Look
- Three Australian men have been found guilty in Indonesia's South Papua province for illegal entry and visa violations.
- Two men claim they were fleeing threats in Australia, while the pilot was found guilty of assisting them.
- All are expected to be deported this month after serving jail time.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Three Australian men were found guilty by an Indonesian court after undertaking an illegal flight into Indonesia's South Papua province. Two of the men claim they were fleeing threats in Australia, while the pilot was convicted of assisting them.
Three Australian men are expected to be deported to Australia from Indonesia this month, after taking a "black flight" into Indonesia's South Papua province and serving time in an Indonesian jail.
Alleged Sydney fugitives Zulfukar Aljubouri and Duong Tan Le were found guilty by a District Court in Merauke of entering Indonesia without a valid visa.
Queensland-based pilot Jay Victor Davis was found guilty of assisting the two.
Australian Federal Police allege two Sydney men were picked up on November 17 at an airstrip in Port Stewart in Far North Queensland by a plane that was operating with its transponder turned off.
The aircraft later turned its transponder back on when over international waters.
The men landed in Merauke, with Mr Aljubouri and Mr Le not listed on the aircraft's certificate of clearance.
Indonesian officials arrested the three Australians, along with an Indonesian co-pilot.
Defendant describes being shot at, threatened
At trial, Zulfukar Aljubouri gave evidence that he and Mr Le were partners in a tobacco business and were fleeing because they had received threats from a competitor.
Mr Aljubouri told the court that his house had been shot at, prompting him and Mr Le to flee.
He told the court they agreed to pay $100,000 through an intermediary for the flight to Merauke.
Mr Aljubouri also gave evidence that he and Mr Le planned to travel to their countries of birth, Iran and Vietnam respectively.
The two alleged fugitives were sentenced by the court two weeks ago, while pilot Mr Davis was sentenced today.
All three have been sentenced to seven months in jail and a fine, but with time served, they are expected to be released and deported to Australia this month.
The aircraft they flew in has been confiscated as evidence.
Mr Davis's lawyer Erwin Siregar, said that his client accepted the outcome of the sentencing.
"He wants to see his parents and wife; the judge's decision is acceptable," he said.
The operator of the Rockhampton charter company, Grant Bernard Schultz, has been charged with two counts of people smuggling.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The three Australian men will be deported from Indonesia to Australia this month.
Very likely
Grant Bernard Schultz will face charges related to people smuggling.
Likely
Open Questions
- What were the specific threats that prompted Aljubouri and Le to flee Australia?
- Who is the competitor that allegedly threatened Aljubouri and Le?
- What is the status of the Indonesian co-pilot arrested with the Australians?
- What are the details of the 'black flight' operation beyond the payment and transponder status?
