Three Australians Convicted in Indonesia for Illegal Entry

Zulfukar Aljubouri, Duong Tan Le, and Jay Victor Davis were found guilty of entering Indonesia without a valid visa. With time served, they are expected to be released and deported to Australia this month.

The Verdict

The three men were sentenced to seven months in jail along with a fine. However, having already served their time, they are now expected to be released and returned to Australia.

Aljubouri and Le were not listed on the aircraft's certificate of clearance, a key factor in the proceedings against them.

Background of the Case

According to the Australian Federal Police, two Sydney men were picked up on November 17 at an airstrip in Port Stewart, Far North Queensland, by a plane operating with its transponder turned off.

The aircraft reactivated its transponder once it reached international waters, before landing in Merauke, Indonesia. Indonesian officials arrested the three Australians along with an Indonesian co-pilot.

What the Defendants Said

At trial, Aljubouri gave evidence that he and Le were partners in a tobacco business. He claimed they were fleeing due to threats from a competitor, including that his house had been shot at.

He stated they agreed to pay $100,000 through an intermediary for the flight to Merauke. Aljubouri said they planned to travel to Iran and Vietnam, respectively.

"My client accepts the outcome and wants to see his parents and wife."
— Erwin Siregar, Lawyer for Jay Victor Davis

Related Charges

In a separate but connected development, Grant Bernard Schultz, operator of a Rockhampton charter company, has been charged with two counts of people smuggling in relation to the same incident.