Australia refuses to deny it paid people-smugglers

SYDNEY: Australian officials refused to deny allegations that authorities paid crew on a people-smuggling boat US$30,000 (RM89,000) to return 65 asylum-seekers to Indonesia, while insisting that no laws had been broken.

The refusal to confirm or deny the allegations came after Amnesty International said the evidence of cash payments could no longer be ignored and as Australia comes under mounting pressure over its heavily criticised immigration policies.