“We have received several prisoner transfer requests from the Dutch government, with feasibility assessments ongoing. We may execute them if we find them viable,” Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra stated.
At a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, he said that similar requests had also been submitted by other countries, including Bulgaria.
However, discussions with the Bulgarian government were discontinued after the prisoner in question passed away in Indonesia before the transfer could take place.
He noted that most repatriation requests involve convicts who are either ill, of advanced age, or have been incarcerated in Indonesia for a long period.
On that note, he underlined that the government will not approve transfer requests for inmates who have served only five to ten years of their jail terms.
“We will consider repatriating prisoners who have served 20 years or those with shorter sentences who are suffering from illness,” Mahendra said, citing the recent repatriation of a French convict on health grounds.
The governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands held discussions in Jakarta on March 19 this year regarding the repatriation of Dutch prisoners.
Following the meeting, Mahendra confirmed that five Dutch nationals are currently imprisoned in Indonesia, including two convicted of drug offenses.
He affirmed that Indonesia remains open to cooperating with the Netherlands on prisoner transfers, stressing the need to uphold fairness and safeguard national security.
He added that the Dutch government must respect Indonesia’s judicial system by ensuring that any repatriated convicts continue serving their sentences in accordance with Indonesian court rulings.
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Translator: Agatha O, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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