Three Immigration Escapees Detained
Media Release - DPS 98/2002
Three male Afghan detainees who escaped from Woomera Immigration Reception and Processing Centre (IRPC) during April and June 2002 were recaptured on Monday evening (16 December 2002), the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said today.
The three detainees, aged between 18-28, were apprehended by DIMIA compliance officers in Penola, South Australia following information received from the community.
Two men are from the 50 detainees who escaped from Woomera IRPC on 27 June 2002 and one is from the 35 detainees who escaped on the Easter 2002 weekend in April. Currently nine detainees remain at large from April and six from June.
"The detainees were accommodated at Mount Gambier Police Station on Monday night and were transferred to Adelaide Watch house on Tuesday," a departmental spokesperson said.
The men are being interviewed by Australian Federal Police with the view to charging the them under section 197a of the Migration Act (escaping from lawful immigration custody).
The spokesperson said the Government will use the full force of the law against those escaping from immigration detention.
"Aiding, abetting and harbouring escaped detainees are also
very serious offences that carry penalties of up to ten years jail.
The escapees face up to five years in jail."
19 December 2002
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