Perth: Australian authorities charged 11
asylum seekers on Wednesday in connection with a riot at an island
immigration detention centre that left 37 injured.
The men, ranging in age from 21 to 36, appeared in the
Christmas Island Magistrates` Court to face a total of 23
charges including rioting, possession of a weapon and assault.
The men, whose nationalities were not released, were
returned to custody and ordered to reappear in court at a
later date.
The charges are connected to a Nov 21 outbreak of
violence at the centre on Christmas Island, south of
Indonesia, 2,600 kilometres from the Australian west coast
city of Perth.
"If any of them are found to have committed a serious
offence, it may affect the granting of a visa," Immigration
Minister Chris Evans said in a statement.
"Violent behaviour is unacceptable and people found
guilty of violent offences should expect to face the full
force of the law."
A conviction on rioting charges carries a sentence of up
to five years in jail, with assault and weapons possession
charges each carrying maximum penalties of three years in
jail.
The Christmas Island detention centre`s population is
near capacity as a continuing stream of asylum seekers, mainly
from Sri Lanka, head toward Australia by boat.
PTI
