Following the arrest of two human trafficking ringleaders, the police are investigating the possibility of bribery being involved in the issuance of Indonesian visas to Afghan citizens bound for Australia. Quoting members of Australia’s Afghan community, The Australian newspaper reported last week that corrupt officials at the Indonesian Embassy in Kabul were selling visas. Indonesia has long been used as a transit point for people from poor, often war-torn countries wishing to enter wealthy Australia to start a new life. In recent years, most have come from Iraq or Afghanistan. They typically fly to Indonesia before continuing to Australia aboard cramped, barely seaworthy boats. Australia has intercepted at least five boats carrying dozens of refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka, with Indonesian crews, since September this year. More
here.
