Siev X: man to stand trial over alleged role in organising asylum attempt which ended in disaster

More than two decades after an asylum seeker boat bound for Australia sank, drowning more than 350 people, a man has been committed to stand trial in Brisbane over his alleged part in the people-smuggling operation that put them on board.

Iraqi national Maythem Kamil Radhi is accused of being part of a syndicate that put 421 people on an overcrowded and dilapidated fishing vessel, later known as Suspected Illegal Entry Vessel X (Siev X), in October 2001.

While about 120 people survived the initial sinking, only 44 were ultimately rescued by a fishing boat, after spending more than 20 hours in the sea. A 45th survivor was rescued another 12 hours later by another boat.

Radhi, now aged 45, has not been charged over the deaths, but has been committed in the Brisbane magistrates court to stand trial on one charge of bringing groups of non-citizens into Australia.

Fawzi Al Majid, who met the Siev X organisers but did not ultimately board the boat after being warned not too, said hundreds of people were taken by bus to a hotel in Sumatra where they spent four days waiting for the boat.

Al Majid said he paid $1,000 to Radhi and another man to take part in the operation.

But after the boat sank some money was paid back to him by a third man.