Fed: Australia delighted with arrest of people smuggler

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Fed: Australia delighted with arrest of people smuggler

CANBERRA, Aug 30 AAP - Australia was delighted with the arrest of a people smugglerwho organised the boat trip on which more than 350 asylum seekers died, Foreign MinisterAlexander Downer said today.

Mr Downer said Egyptian Abu Quassey was responsible for organising last year's overcrowdedboat trip from Indonesia to Australia during which 353 mostly Afghan and Iraqi nationalsdrowned.

Quassey is being tried in Indonesia in relation to offences against its immigrationlaws, while Australia has three warrants out for his arrest on people smuggling charges.

"We are delighted that at least he has been detained and charged according to Indonesianlaw," Mr Downer told reporters.

"This is a man who allegedly has had substantial involvement with people smugglingactivities, including being responsible for the sending of the boat which sank where manylives were lost during October ... last year.

"It's a good development that he's been charged."

People smuggling is not a criminal offence in Indonesia but Mr Downer said officialswere working with Indonesian authorities to criminalise it.

"Obviously we would like to be able to take action ourselves against somebody likeAbu Quassey who on the face of it could be brought to court in Australia," he said.

Asked if Quassey could be brought to trial in Australia, Mr Downer replied: "Let'sjust see what happens in Indonesia."

AAP sm/daw/ph/de

KEYWORD: INDON SMUGGLER DOWNER