The warning came following the government’s decisions to transfer Mary Jane Veloso, a death row convict in a drug smuggling case, to the Philippines and the transfer of five prisoners from the Bali Nine group to Australia.
"The request to transfer prisoners by various countries can create challenges for law enforcement in Indonesia," said Pangeran Khairul Saleh, member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR), on Friday.
He highlighted that Indonesia's decision to transfer Mary Jane to complete her sentence in the Philippines has drawn significant scrutiny, primarily because the nation currently lacks a formal legal framework to support such prisoner transfers.
Saleh claimed that the decision to transfer prisoners is based solely on agreements between the two countries or diplomatic considerations.
While the issue has yet to be resolved, several countries, including Australia and France, have formally approached Indonesia regarding the potential transfer of their detained citizens.
Without a strong legal basis, Saleh warned that the transfer of foreign prisoners to their countries of origin could create new challenges for Indonesia's legal system.
"If not managed properly, this issue may worsen the inequality in the justice system and reduce public trust in legal institutions," he cautioned.
Although the government stated that the transfer of prisoners is possible, Saleh reminded that the process of transferring foreign prisoners should have a stronger legal basis.
Moreover, he emphasized the need for laws on prisoner transfers to be supported by detailed implementing regulations.
"We hope that the government will be more careful in making decisions. Do not violate the Constitution as the highest legal basis," he concluded.
Related news: Mary Jane Veloso's transfer form of protection diplomacy: Komnas HAM
Related news: Expect Philippines to reciprocate transfer of death-row convict: RI
Translator: Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Anton Santoso
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