"We will try to persuade the local authorities to move the boys to a prison for children," Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Primo Alui Joelianto said here on Thursday.
Ose Lani (15 years old), Ako Lani and John Ndolu (16) were seized by Australian water police last January 2010 in a boat carrying illegal immigrants. According to a report, the three boys n were put in an adult jail because an x-ray wrist checking system had categorized them as adults. The boys are facing a jail sentence of five to six years.
Meanwhile, the boys` lawyer, citing a number of studies and judicial rulings, said the X-ray checks are unreliable and inadequate to determine the ages of children.
"While trying to relocate the boys to a juvenile prison, we also plan to bring in an Indonesian chiropractor to give their professional opinion about the case," said the ambassador.
He said the boys` lawyer had already obtained the birth certificate of his clients and would use it to prove that the boys are underage.
"However the process of verification with Australian authorities will take a long time. Therefore, we suggest the boys be relocated to a prison for children," he said.
(A051/O001)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
