Mootaz Sentenced to 6 Months Imprisonment

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta:Mootaz Attia Mohammad Hasan aka Abu Quassey, an Egyptian allegedly involved in people smuggling to Australia, was sentenced to six months imprisonment by judge Rohendi at the South Jakarta District Court in Jakarta on Wednesday (4/9). In the trial, Mootaz was only accused of having violated immigration laws in Indonesia. As reported earlier, Mootaz was allegedly involved in the smuggling of some 418 refugees from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to Australia in October 2001. This smuggling led to death of some 300 refugees following the sinking of a wooden carrying the refugees in the Sunda Straits on October 20, 2001. According to the judge, Mootaz was declared guilty considering that as a foreigner, he has been proven of not possessing a legal stay permit in Indonesia and having violated article 53 of Law number 9 of 1992 on immigration affairs. After the sentence was read, Mootaz requested time to think over whether or not he would accept the sentence. According to Public Prosecutor Tarsono, the convicted is given a one week period to consider the judges ruling. If within this period, Mootaz does not carry out any legal measure as regards his sentence, the prosecutor will immediately implement the judges decision. If Mootaz files an appeal against his sentence, we will also file an appeal, said Tarsono. (Suseno Tempo News Room)