Detainees at Australian immigration detention centre charged with rioting

January 20 2010 by Liam Clifford

The rioters responsible for the riots which caused disruption and global media interest in the Christmas Island detention centre have been charged.

Eleven detainees at the notorious Christmas Island detention facility have appeared in court charged with starting the riot that occurred at the centre last year.

The eleven men, from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and varying in age from 21 to 36, appeared in front of the magistrates’ court on Wednesday and were remanded to re-appear at a later date.

Australian immigration minister Chris Evans resolved to deliver immediate action if any of the asylum-seekers are found to be guilty of the charges.

In a statement he said that; "The 11 men charged by the AFP will remain in detention and resolution of their visa status will be delayed until all the charges have been heard and the court matters are resolved.

"If any of them are found to have committed a serious offence, it may affect the granting of an Australian visa.”

In Australia the maximum jail-terms for the offences the eleven men are charged with are; five years for rioting, three for assault and three years respectively for the charge of possessing a weapon.

Australian immigration authorities are likely to press for the full letter of the law if the men are found to be culpable for the riots, which disrupted the centre considerably last year.

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