MELBOURNE, May 10: A Pakistani man could be brought to Australia to face charges of people-smuggling after he lost an appeal against extradition from Thailand, the government said on Saturday.

Australia has accused Hasan Ayoub of smuggling in illegal immigrants from Indonesia between December 2000 and April 2001.

He faces a maximum of 20 years’ jail if convicted on 13 charges.

Justice Minister Chris Ellison said the Thai Court of Appeal refused Ayoub’s appeal against his extradition on Saturday.

“We want him to face 13 charges in Australia for his alleged people smuggling activities,” Ellison said on ABC Radio. “And these are of course very serious offences.”—Reuters