An Indonesian jury may retire to consider the verdict in the case of accused people smuggler Lauhenapessy today, reports say, with expectations that a fine is the likely punishment.
Prime Minister Rudd became personally involved in the case when he asked for the Indonesian navy to intercept a baot carrying more than 250 suspected asylum seekers last October
Indonesian prosecutors last week called on a court to jail the alleged people smuggler behind the failed bid to bring 254 Sri Lankan asylum seekers into Australia last year.
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The ABC reports that prosecutors told the court Abraham Lauhenapessy, better known as Captain Bram, should be jailed for one year and fined 30 million rupiah ($A3573), for breaching sailing laws in connection to the failed journey.
There's currently no law against people smuggling itself in Indonesia, and Lauhenapessy has been charged with employing crew with the correct authorisation, reports the ABC.
He's likely to get a one-year suspended sentence, meaning he would avoid jail.
Lauhenapessy is believed to have successfully brought more than 15 hundred asylum seekers into Australia in the past decade.
There's some controversy around the case, with critics complaining Lauhenapessy previously told investigators he'd been sent on the job in question by associates in Malaysia, later saying he came across his passengers by chance while at sea, reports the ABC.
Much to the relief of PM Rudd - under fire for a perceived lack of action - there's expectation a people smuggling law will soon be debated by the Indonesian parliament.
