JAKARTA: Indonesia’s foreign ministry says it believes illegal payments were made by Australia to the crew of a people-smuggling boat.
Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Paul Grigson, met with Indonesia’s foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, on Friday.
Ms Marsudi had demanded clarification about reports the crew of a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers were paid thousands of dollars each to return them to Indonesia.
Earlier this week an Australian Customs ship escorting the boat back towards Indonesia.
Initial investigations by Indonesian police, and accounts of passengers, suggest Australian officials paid more than $30,000 in US bank notes to the crew.
Mr Grigson delivered a letter from Australia’s Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, and told Ms Marsudi Australian officials acted within the law.
But Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, said no new information had been provided by Australia, and Indonesia’s questions remain unanswered.
After meeting with Ms Marsudi, Mr Grigson fronted the media, saying he would make a brief statement and would not take questions.
“Australia remains very committed to cooperation with Indonesia to combat people smuggling in all its forms,” Mr Grigson said.
“And as my Prime Minister has said repeatedly, has said repeatedly, that Australian officials have always acted within the law in this case.”
But Mr Nasir challenged those claims.
“So if a country says they are committed to addressing this issue then show it, prove it to us,” he said.
“With our good will, we asked for clarification and for further information on this issue.
“We did not receive this, so in that context we cannot be blamed for believing that there was an illicit payment.”
