Lack of explanation means ‘we cannot be blamed for taking the view that there was an illicit payment made’ says Indonesia’s foreign ministry

The foreign minister, Julie Bishop has given no explanation of whether Australian officials paid the crew of a boat carrying asylum seekers in correspondence sent to Indonesia, its foreign ministry spokesman has said.

Bishop’s letter was handed to her counterpart, Retno Marsudi, by Australia’s ambassador, Paul Grigson, on Friday.

Indonesia spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir, said: “When we did not receive any new information or any clarification, again, like I said, we cannot be blamed for taking the view that there was an illicit payment made to the smugglers.”

A boat captain and five crew members are being questioned by police on the Indonesian island of Rote for helping 65 people to seek asylum in New Zealand, and say an Australian official paid them cash to turn back to Indonesia.

Retno asked Grigson to seek an explanation of the claims on Saturday, before she left for meetings in Norway.

He visited her office for about 20 minutes on Friday, their first formal get-together since Grigson returned from his recall over Indonesia’s execution of Bali Nine drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

“Australia remains very committed to cooperation with Indonesia to combat people smuggling in all its forms,” Grigson said after the meeting.

“As my prime minister has said repeatedly ... Australian officials have always acted within the law in this case.”