Five Australians Released from Prison

VIVAnews - Five Australian citizens who were detained in Papua were freed from a prison in Merauke. They were released after their legal adviser proposed for a plea from the judges.

"The suspects are under city arrest. They are free to go to whatever places but it will be restricted in Merauke," Efrem Fangohoy, the suspects' legal adviser, said as quoted from the Australian Associated Press on Monday, March 2.

Fangohoy stated that the suspects were released due to humanitarian reasons. "Some of them are quite old and easily get ill. While William and Vera have just lost their son. Both of them are in serious shock," he added. The legal adviser is on the process of compiling the appeal brief. He hoped it will be proposed as soon as possible.

A Queensland-based pilot William Henry Scott-Bloxam, 62, was sentenced to three years in prison for illegal landing. While four of his passengers, Vera (54), Hubert (57), Karen Burke (51), and Keith Ronald Mortimer (60) were sentenced to four years in prison.

The five Australians landed in Merauke using a V-68 plane on Friday, Sept. 12 2008. There was no visa available for the airplane. The Indonesian Police headquarters also revealed that Wiliam Henry Scott Bloxom and Vera Scott Bloxom which piloted the plane did not acquire the necessary documents such as security clearance and flight approval.

--

Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman