"They are now still being intensively interrogated at East Lombok resort command and the case will be handled by the West Nusa Tenggara regional command`s professional and internal security unit," West Nusa Tenggara police command spokesman Commissioner Wirajaya said here on Wednesday.
He stated that the police would take harsh action against any member involved in any kind of crime, including smuggling of illegal immigrants from Somalia and Eritrea.
In view of that, Wirajaya called on those knew anything about police involvement in the human smuggling case to help.
"Help us uncover crimes. Even police members would be dealt with, if found involved," he said.
The alleged involvement of First Brigade Eg and Mk in the attempt to smuggle Somalian and Eritrean illegal immigrants was unveiled by the East Lombok resort police command`s chief intelligence Adjunct Commissioner Yuyan Priatmaja.
On April 15, 2012, 34 illegal immigrants from Somalia and Eritrea were stranded on Sepang Beach in the village of Emang Lestari, Sumbawa, on their way to Australia by boat.
The 12.3 meter boat that they had rented carried 33 people from Somalia and one from Eritrea. There were 24 men, 10 women, and one child.
When the boat was about to enter Australian waters, it was hit by strong waves that made its engine stop functioning, causing the boat to be drifted and stranded in Lunyuk waters in Sumbawa.
The front part of the wooden boat was broken and some of the passengers were thrown out and hurt critically. They were admitted to a health care centre in Lunyuk for treatment.
It was rumoured that the departure of the illegal immigrants was facilitated by an immigrant- smuggling network. After investigation, it was found that six villagers of East Lombok were involved in it and two of them are First Brigade Eg adn Mk.
The illegal immigrants departed from Labuhan Haji coast to Sepang beach in Lunyuk Sumbawa, before leaving for Australia.
They came from Jakarta and upon arrival at Lombok International Airport were picked up and hidden in a temporary shelter in Keruak, East Lombok.
The two police officers were watching all of this and were the ones who found the shelter for the illegal immigrants.
The six are now facing charges against Article 120 of Law Number 6/2011 on immigration, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp1.5 billion.
The illegal immigrants are now accommodated at Jayahi motel in Sumbawa Besar, facilitated by the International Migration Agency, which was also involved in their evacuation from Lunyuk.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
