"Since we have no such legal base, we are still studying it, and it may be included in the penal laws. So, there should be an article with the approval of the House of Representatives or we can find another legal basis which is really strong,&quJakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is still considering the possibility of proposals for the conclusion of prisoner exhange accords with a few other countries, Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said.
Speaking at the Presidential Office here Monday, Patrialis said the proposals for prisoners exchange had come from four countries, namely Australia, Hong Kong, Brazil and Iran.
However, Indonesia still needed to consider those proposals from the legal viewpoint as so far it did not have a law allowing the exchange of foreigners jailed in Indonesia with Indonesians convicted in foreign countries.
Therefore, he added, the government was still looking for provisions in Indonesian laws that could be used as a legal basis for exchanging Indonesian prisoners abroad with foreigners convicted in Indonesia, and it might be included in penal laws which would be discussed together with the House of Representatives.
"Since we have no such legal base, we are still studying it, and it may be included in the penal laws. So, there should be an article with the approval of the House of Representatives or we can find another legal basis which is really strong," he said.
If no such strong legal basis was provided, Patrialis said, it would not be possible to conclude prisoner exchange accords with other countries.
It was earlier reported Indonesia and Australia were mulling to sign a prisoners exchange agreement that would free a number of Australian convicts in Indonesia, including Schapelle Leigh Corby who is serving a prison sentence for possession of 4.1 kilograms of marijuana. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
