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SL asylum seekers were detained lawfully at sea
Oct 15, 201410:19 AM
Lawyers for the Federal Government have told the High Court in Canberra the detention at sea and planned removal of 157 Tamil asylum seekers was done lawfully and did not breach its international obligations.
ABC news reported that the validity of the law used to detain the group in June is under the spotlight at the High Court in a two-day hearing.
Government lawyers told the court the decision was made under the Maritime Powers Act by the National Security Committee of the Cabinet.
Yesterday, lawyers representing the asylum seekers told the court that the group was illegally detained once a decision was made to take them back to India and they were also denied procedural fairness when they were not asked about their refugee status.
The group, which includes 50 children, were intercepted at sea and taken aboard the Australian Customs ship the Oceanic Protector.
