Posted March 16, 2017 19:17:08

Photo: Captain Bram has been sentenced to six years jail and fined the equivalent of $50,000. (AAP: Adam Gartrell)

An Indonesian man who organised the failed asylum seeker journey at the centre of the cash-for-boat-turn-back scandal with Australia has been found guilty of people smuggling.

Rote Island's district court in Indonesia's south-east sentenced Abraham Louhenapessy, who is commonly known as Captain Bram, to six years' jail and fined him 500 million Rupiah ($50,000).

He had arranged the failed asylum seeker journey to New Zealand in May 2015, including buying the boat.

The same boat was intercepted by Australian officials, who allegedly gave the captain and his crew $US32,000 to turn back to Indonesia.

Captain Bram has been convicted for people smuggling offences before, including for trying to bring more than 200 Sri Lankans to Australia.

It was alleged he was involved in the smuggling of more than 1,000 people to Australia since 1999.

Topics: crime, immigration, indonesia