Indonesia extradites accused people smuggler
Updated
The first alleged people smuggler to be extradited from Indonesia to Australia has been arrested on arrival from Jakarta, in the West Australian capital Perth. Hadi Ahmadi, who has dual Iraqi and Iranian citizenship, will be charged with more than 20 people smuggling offences.
Presenter:Geoff THompson
Speakers: Hadi Ahmadi, accused people smuggler; Chris Evans, Australia's immigration minister
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GEOFF THOMPSON: In some police photos Hadi Ahmadi's appearance is obscured by dark dyed hair and a beard, but it was a pale, bald and clean shaven man in a green T-shirt who was bustled out of Indonesia yesterday afternoon, flanked by Australian Federal Police.
Last minute medical complaints failed to foil his extradition but the dual Iraqi and Iranian citizen protested his innocence till the end. He told reporters he just tried to help people get to Australia - where he too wanted to go.
(Sound of Hadi Ahmadi speaking)
"I have been sacrificed to big politics," he said in Indonesian. "For God's sake, I am being treated unfairly, but I hope the courts in Australia will be fair."
On his arrival in Perth last night, the alleged human trafficking "kingpin" was arrested and will be charged with 21 people smuggling offences under the Migration Act, relating to the arrival of four boats in Australia in 2001. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has linked Ahmadi to the arrivals of more than 900 asylum seekers.
The extradition follows months of negotiations and recent confirmation that since last September, Indonesian efforts have intercepted 887 asylum seekers before they could board boats to Australia.
That is more than the 749 asylum seekers intercepted by Australian Border Protection authorities.
Indonesia's cooperation was praised by Immigration Minister Chris Evans last night.
CHRIS EVANS: Look, I think this is a really good precedent. It's a breakthrough and we've got good cooperation with Indonesia.
There's been a number of arrests recently in Indonesia, a number of disruptions, and certainly this is a very important extradition and it's a sign of the increased level of cooperation in combating people smuggling.
GEOFF THOMPSON: Hadi Ahmadi says he is "a small fish" who is being "scapegoated" for political reasons.
He has also claimed, without proof, that in 2007 the Australian Federal Police offered him an Australian passport and citizenship in exchange for his assistance in the fight against people smuggling.
Ahmadi's Indonesian lawyer Joel Tannos disputes the grounds for the extradition because his client is charged with people smuggling offences which don't yet exist in Indonesia.
It's an argument sure to be tested when Hadi Ahmadi goes to trial on charges which could see him sent to jail for up to 20 years.
