Of course, we laud the approach of the Law and Human Rights Ministry and Minister Yasonna Laoly's legal diplomacy in Serbia to materialize this extradition
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) praised the extradition of Maria Pauline Lumowa, a fugitive in a major embezzlement case involving Rp1.7 trillion in bank loans, from Serbia, 17 years after she was named suspect.

"Of course, we laud the approach of the Law and Human Rights Ministry and Minister Yasonna Laoly's legal diplomacy in Serbia to materialize this extradition," Herman Herry, chairman of the House's Commission III overseeing legal, human rights, and security affairs, remarked here on Thursday.

Herry attributed synergy among law enforcement institutions, including the police and the prosecutor’s office, for the success behind realizing this extradition.

"The success in extraditing Maria Pauline Lumowa is testament to the commitment and the state's presence in law enforcement. This also brings a message that the state will not stop from taking action against anyone, who commits crimes in this country," he remarked.

Herry is optimistic of the authority going ahead with the legal process against Lumowa and settling the case.

On early Thursday, an Indonesian delegation, led by Law and Human Rights Minister Laoly, arrived in Jakarta along with Lumowa, who was extradited by the Serbian government to Indonesia on Wednesday (July 8).

Lumowa had fled to Singapore in September 2003 or a month prior to being named a suspect in the embezzlement of Rp1.7 trillion (US$118 million) of Bank BNI's loans by using a fake Letter of Credit.

In 2009, the authority learnt of Lumowa moving to the Netherlands and later found that she held the Dutch citizenship since 1979.

However, the Netherlands had declined Indonesia's requests to extradite her in 2010 and 2014.

The Serbian police apprehended Lumowa at the Nikola Tesla Airport in Serbia on July 16, 2019, based on the Interpol red notice issued on December 22, 2003.
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Translator: Abdu Faisal, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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