Police chief shows Fairfax people smuggler cashAustralian officials 'paid people smugglers to turn back'
Rote Island: Indonesian police returned $US30,000 ($42,550) to the boat crew who were allegedly paid by Australian officials to return a boat of 65 asylum seekers to Indonesia, according to the men's lawyer.
Six Indonesian crew members are being tried on Rote Island in Indonesia on people smuggling charges that carry up to 15 years jail. 
Defence lawyer Yesaya Dae Panie said outside court on Tuesday that the money had been returned to the crew members once they were released from police custody.
Rote police chief Murri Miranda confirmed to Fairfax Media: "The police returned the money to the crew after we handed over the case to the prosecutor."
The court had earlier heard that Captain Yohanis Humiang was recruited by Indra Reza Rumambi in   March 2015 to take a boat of asylum seekers to New Zealand.
Prosecutor Alexander Sele said he was offered a fee of 150 million rupiah ($15,655) and the remaining five crew members were offered fees of 100 million rupiah each to make the journey.
"That payment would be made after they managed to reach New Zealand carrying 65 immigrants - 58 adult males, four adult females and three children," Mr Sele read in the indictment.
He said between   February and   April the asylum seekers from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar were recruited by Sri Lankan people smuggling agent Visvhanatan Thineskumar, aka Kugan.
The asylum seekers were told that anyone wishing to go to New Zealand had to pay $US6000.
"Once the payment made to Kugan, the immigrants were placed in temporary housing in Cisarua, before being taken by the defendant and the five crew to New Zealand," Mr Sele said.
The court heard the boat, Andika, left Tegal in West Java on   April 30.
However it was intercepted by an Australian Customs speedboat and passengers were given brochures saying they couldn't enter Australia without proper visa or complete documents.
The court heard Andika sailed for two more days but was then intercepted by Australian Customs and the Australian Navy, who interviewed the crew.
"Before being ordered to return to indonesia, the defendant and five crew were given a sum of $US5000 each," Mr Sele said.
"They were then transferred to two boats, Jasmine and Kanak, with limited fuel and after one day they were stranded on Landu Island, near Rote."
The indictment said Rote Ndao Court had the right to investigate and try the defendant as someone who profited, directly or indirectly, taking person or persons with no rights to enter or exit Indonesia, using legal or illegal documents, either through immigration or not.
Yohanis is being tried separately from the other five crew members.
Mr Yesaya said all six men had admitted their guilt. The trial will now call witnesses, including asylum seekers, local police and the head villager of Landu Island, where the boat had been marooned.
However one of the asylum seekers, K.T. Charles, who was supposed to testify has escaped from Inaboi immigration centre.
Meanwhile, an 18-year-old Pakistani who was seeking asylum in Australia is in police custody in Indonesia after the fishing boat he was on was told by Australian Customs to return to Indonesia over the weekend.
The head of the East Nusa Tenggara people smugglers division, Ibrahim, told Fairfax Media that Zubair Hassan Bhatti agreed to pay 35 million rupiah (about $3500) to travel to Australia on a boat.
"Last Friday, Hassan was taken in a fishing boat with three Indonesian crew," Mr Ibrahim said.
"After they reached Australian waters, the fishing boat had machine trouble. Then Australian Customs approached them, recorded everyone's identity and helped fix the boat. Once it was fixed, they were told to return to Indonesia."
Mr Ibrahim said the crew dropped Hassan at a remote beach in East Rote and then escaped in the boat.
Rote deputy police chief Nicodemus Ndoloe said locals found him on Sunday,   November 8.
Police have the names of the crew members but are still investigating.