Iranian People Smuggler Arrested at Request of Australian Government

Jakarta Globe, Farouk Arnaz, Nov 23, 2014

In this handout photo released by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue
 Agency (Basarnas) on July 4, 2012, shows a boat believed to be carrying up to
 180 asylum-seekers spotted south of Java and sailing towards Australian waters.
(AFP Photo)

Jakarta. Indonesia’s National Police have arrested an Iranian people smuggler who was allegedly involved in the death of more than 200 people in a disaster off the coast of East Java in 2011.

Mohammed Naghi Karimi Azar, 54, was arrested in an apartment in Central Jakarta on Oct. 29 at the request of Australian authorities, police said on Sunday.

Azar is alleged to have coordinated a notorious people smuggling attempt that ended in disaster off the coast off Trenggalek in December 2011. A boat en-route to Australia that was carrying some 250 asylum seekers from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan sank in rough seas. Only 47 survivors were rescued.

Sr. Comr. Budi Santoso, chief of the National Police’s people smuggling sub-division, said on Sunday that the arrest was carried out following a request from the Australian government.

“We’re still waiting for the decision on when the extradition can be conducted,” Agus said. “The suspect is charged under the 1979 Law No. 1 on Extradition and 2010 Law No. 8 on the Indonesia-Australia Extradition Agreement.”

Azar, who has Iranian citizenship, has been held at a prison administered by the National Police’s general crime division since he was arrested.

The 2011 incident is believed to be the largest loss of life from a sinking of one of the many boats packed with Asian and Middle Eastern migrants who undertake the perilous voyage from Indonesia to Australia.

Two other alleged people smugglers, Abu Anwar and Matim, are still being sought for their role in the tragedy.