The five Torres Strait residents, being detained in Merauke in Indonesia on visa violation charges, are steeling themselves to go to jail following a sudden change of policy by Indonesian prosecutors.

An Indonesian prosecutor has asked that each of the four facing visa charges be sent to prison for three years for violating immigration laws.

The prosecution had previously told them and their legal representatives that they would seek only a 40 million Rupiah (about $A4000) fine.

Vera Scott-Bloxam, 54, Hubert Hufer, 57, Karen Burke, 51, and Keith Ronald Morimter, 60, are facing trial in Merauke District Court.

They are accused of entering Indonesia illegally, after they travelled to Papua by a small plane from Horn Island, off the tip of Queensland’s Cape York on September 12. The pilot Scott-Bloxam is facing a separate, on-going trial in the court on flying the plane into Indonesia without permission.

The Torres News understands the sudden changes came only a short time before the resumption of court cases last Monday. It’s believed the instruction came from a Government official in Jakarta to the Prosecutor.

The three judges, while able to act independently, are certain to take some notice of the request, and it’s understood the judges were as equally as stunned as the four defendants and the legal representatives.

It’s also understood Australian Consular officials are trying to determine who was responsible for the change of penalty.

The group is hoping the court will not impose a three-year penalty should the judges decide to send them to jail, and are hoping for a substantially reduced term.

One Indonesian-based source told the Torres News last week that he believes the jail threat is part of a power game being played between the Indonesian Government to obtain some power leverage over the Australian Government.

AAP reports that prosecutor Chanra Viktor Suruan said Merauke District Court should find the four Australians guilty of the crime.

"We ask that the defendants be punished with three years in jail, and fined 20 million rupiah (about $A2000), or in exchange (for that) with three months jail."

Outside the court, defence lawyer Efrem Fangohoi said the punishment was too severe. "The demand requested by the prosecutors is too high," he said.

"They didn’t consider, for example, there is an international area (in the airport) and they got off the plane unwillingly and were taken by the officers into the airport.

"They didn’t violate the visa regulation because the isolation room in the airport is a neutral area.They were taken by the security officers to the hotel, and the officers actually knew that they didn’t have a visa."

The group has made a pact not to talk about jail over the Christmas/New Year period, preferring to enjoy the celebrations.

In other news,

Vera Scott-Bloxam was struck by a motor cycle injury last week, with the injuries requiring stitches.

At least one family member of the group is preparing to fly to Merauke as soon as possible.

Prison conditions in Indonesia are disgusting by Australian standards. Prisoners have to buy their own food, toiletries and all items, while the toilet in merely a hole in the floor.