Mr Kadem had pleaded guilty
Letter to the Editor - The Australian
28 August 2003
Dear Sir/Madam
Contrary to your report ('Teen couple torn apart by deportation threat', Thursday 28 August) that Mr Kadem was sentenced "for acting as an interpreter for people smugglers", Mr Kadem actually pleaded guilty to knowingly facilitating the bringing to Australia of a group of five or more unlawful non-citizens. This included:
- On one occasion Mr Kadem met a family of non-citizens at the airport on their arrival in Indonesia and assisted to escort them from the airport to the hotel.
- Mr Kadem met non-citizens at the hotel and translated and paid for them on behalf of an organiser when they were threatened with eviction. He was later reimbursed.
- Mr Kadem negotiated for and collected money for non-citizens on behalf of an organiser.
- Mr Kadem interpreted between organisers and non-citizens and acted as a go-between when necessary.
- Mr Kadem interpreted for non-citizens relating to travel on buses.
- Mr Kadem paid some hotel accommodation, travel and food expenses on behalf of an organiser.
This information is available on the Australasian Legal Information Institute website at http://www.austlii.edu.au.
Stewart Foster
Director
Public Affairs
DIMIA