"We respect the legal process in the Philippines in the case of Mary Jane," President Jokowi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The litigation in the Philippines, against Indonesia drug case death row convict Mary Jane Veloso, will be respected, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said.

"We respect the legal process in the Philippines in the case of Mary Jane," President Jokowi said, after inaugurating Kalibaru container terminal at the Tanjung Priok main port in North Jakarta on Tuesday.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has granted the Indonesian government permission to proceed in the case of Mary Jane in accordance with the applicable laws, he said.

Duterte had given permission to go ahead with Mary Janes execution, the president had said on Monday.

The legal process would be followed up by Attorney General M. Prasetyo, he added.

"I have explained to Duterte about Mary Janes situation and told him that she has been found guilty of carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin," the president said.

He also told Duterte about the delay in the execution during the meeting.

Mary Jane was arrested at Adisucipto Airport in Yogyakarta in April, 2010.

Her execution, on April 29, 2015, was delayed following a new development in her case in the Philippines that required her testimony.

The last-minute reprieve came after Mary Janes recruiters, Maria Kristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilo, reportedly surrendered to law enforcement authorities in the Philippines, admitting they had tricked Mary Jane into being an unwitting drug mule, resulting in her death penalty.

Moreover, Mary Jane is suspected to be a victim of human trafficking in the Philippines.

The migrant worker claimed to have met Sergio in Petaling Jaya in Malaysia and was promised a job in the country.

She was told to wait in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, before being assigned work and was given a bag to carry her clothing.

When she arrived at Yogyakartas Adisucipto Airport, Mary Jane was caught by customs officers, who found 2.6 kilograms of heroin worth Rp5.5 billion concealed in her leather bag.

Although the illegal drug did not belong to her, Mary Jane was tried and sentenced to death in 2010.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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