The Australian Broadcasting Corp. identified the man as Ali Hamid. It said Australian police believe he was born in Iran, but Indonesian Police General Agung Sabar Santoso said he claimed to be from Afghanistan.
Two days later, The Age of Melbourne said the man was named Haydar Khani and told Australian consular officials he was a dual Australian-Iranian national. Apart from that, The Age reported, he was uncooperative.
Budi Santoso, head of the people-smuggling unit of the Indonesian police told The Age the man was claiming that he had suffered from a mental illness for 10 years. Budi said Khani also was claiming to have been born in Australia, but the Australian police were skeptical of that.
The Indonesians said the man was behind the dispatch of six people-smuggling boats to Australia late last year, including the Siev 221, which was smashed on the rocks December 15 while carrying Iranians, Iraqis and Kurds to Australia.
The Australian government says 42 people were rescued from the water and 30 bodies were recovered. Based on interviews with the survivors, Australia believes at least 18 others died. Australian has still not announced the nationalities or names of the dead.