Fed: Former diplomat says Aust government protected Quassey

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2003
Fed: Former diplomat says Aust government protected Quassey

A former Australian diplomat says the federal government protected people smuggler
ABU QUASSEY since the ill-fated voyage he organised resulted in the deaths of 353 people.

TONY KEVIN, a former ambassador to Cambodia, has told ABC Radio the government was
never serious about extraditing QUASSEY to Australia or charging him with the manslaughter
of those who died when the Siev X vessel sank on its way to Australia in October 2001.

QUASSEY, also known as MOATAZ ATTIYA MOHAMED HASSAN, was found guilty of manslaughter
for organising the voyage and sentenced in an Egyptian court to five years in jail.

But Mr KEVIN says the sentence is disappointing because it does not reflect the seriousness
of the crime.

He says the federal government made only a few phony attempts to extradite him.

AAP RTV sm/swe

KEYWORD: QUASSEY KEVIN (CANBERRA)

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