The Cobra seems destined for jail. Ali Cobra who also goes by the aliases Ali Kobra, Labasa Ali, Ali Basa, and Sultan Ali has been characterized as one of the main men of the people smuggling scene in Indonesia. Ali Cobra was arrested back in May as part of a joint Indonesian and Australian operation. The charges are not related to the people smuggling activities as the laws are not available in Indonesia.
The prosecutors trying the case in the Kupang District Court have asked for a four year prison sentence and a IDR 15 million fine. Both of these numbers seem a little on the light side considering the crimes committed. However, when considered in light of the charges leveled at the Cobra, then they are within the expected scope. This is because the charges relate to assisting in the mass break out of asylum seekers from a detention center in West Timor and then facilitating them onto a boat headed for Australia.
The boat eventually sank and nine asylum seekers drowned.
Interestingly, Cobra has not employed a lawyer. He has asked the court for leniency when it sentences him on 9 September 2009 as he has a wife and children living in Sulawesi who need him.
2 comments:
They should have let the boat pass Indonesian waters before capturing the boat. That way, Cobra can be tried based on the Australian laws.
Harry...
Now there's a thought.
And, then we could of prisoner exchanged him for Corby :D
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