Alleged people smuggler in court for possible extradition proceedings
(8 May 2013) 1. Various of suspected people smuggler Sayed Abbas in temporary detention at South Jakarta court house 2. Wide exterior of court house 3. Judges entering courtroom 4. Presiding judge opens proceedings 5. Abbas entering court room 6. Various of proceedings, Abbas talking to his lawyers 7. Close, zoom out as presiding judge closes proceedings 8. Abbas leaving courtroom 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sayed Abbas, suspected people smuggler: "All lies brother. All lies. This timing: I'm in jail. He said (it happened) in 2009 but this time I'm in jail in Serang, Banten. I have proven during this time I was in jail. I am not in Jakarta, this time I live in Serang." 10. Cutaway of court sign 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Sayed Abbas, suspected people smuggler: "God willing I want to go back to Afghanistan." (Question: Why don't you want to go to Australia?) "For what? I'm not Australian, I'm Afghani. I don't have any criminal (case) in Australia. Maybe I have a criminal (case) in Australia, Indonesia catch me, they can send me to Australia. I am Afghani, I never go to Australia." 12. Abbas walking towards vehicle to take him back to prison STORYLINE: Alleged people-smuggler and Sayed Abbas branded as "lies" all charges against him at South Jakarta court house on Wednesday. Australia has been seeking Abbas' extradition since 2010 for allegedly smuggling hundreds of people into the country. Prosecutors told the judge he should be extradited to face 27 counts of people smuggling, relating to 19 people on three different boats between 2009 and 2011. He is, however, also widely believed to be responsible for a boat which sank off the coast of Java in December 2011, killing around 200 people, according to Australian media reports. An Afghan national, Abbas told media that he had never been to Australia, and should not be sent there. Prosecutors say he charged between 5-thousand and 10-thousand US dollars per passenger for passage to Australia. He is said to have arranged the boats and allegedly instructed passengers to hand over their passports and mobile phones before boarding. He denies all of the charges, saying that other people smugglers had probably used his name in their operations to deflect attention from themselves. The case has been adjourned until May 15, when the defence team will give their response. The islands of Indonesia have long been transit points for people fleeing war-ravaged countries on their way to Australia. Due to the poor condition of the boats and lack of supply and preparation, the asylum seekers often go missing at sea between Indonesia and Australia. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
