JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – The Indonesian Minister of Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Prisons, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, has strongly denied claims that the Indonesian government has freed Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina national sentenced to death for drug trafficking.

According to Yusril, the government’s actions are not a release but a transfer of prisoner, allowing her to complete her sentence in the Philippines.

Yusril clarified that Mary Jane’s transfer follows the procedure for transferring prisoners between countries.

The Indonesian government, he said, is not releasing her but simply moving her to her home country.

“There is no word of ‘release’ in President Marcos’s statement,” Yusril said, referring to a statement by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “‘Bring her back to the Philippines’ simply means returning her to her home country.”

The Indonesian government’s decision to transfer Mary Jane is based on a formal prisoner transfer agreement between Indonesia and the Philippines.

Yusril emphasized that any country requesting such a transfer must first acknowledge and respect the final judicial decisions made in Indonesia regarding the convicted individual’s sentence.

Yusril went on to outline several conditions that must be met for a prisoner transfer. These include the requirement that the country requesting the transfer must respect Indonesia’s court ruling, and that the prisoner must serve the remainder of their sentence in their home country as determined by Indonesian law.

Additionally, the country requesting the transfer is responsible for covering the costs of the transfer and ensuring the security of the prisoner during the process.

“Once the prisoner returns to their country and completes their sentence there, the responsibility for rehabilitation shifts to that country,” Yusril said.

“This means that after Mary Jane’s return to the Philippines, her treatment and further proceedings will be handled by the Philippine authorities,”

Addressing speculation about a potential reduction in Mary Jane’s sentence, Yusril noted that the decision to grant any form of clemency, such as a pardon or remission, lies entirely with the president of the country in question.

“In Mary Jane’s case, it’s possible that President Marcos could grant clemency and reduce her sentence to life imprisonment, as the death penalty has been abolished in the Philippines,” he added.

Yusril also reminded that former President Joko Widodo of Indonesia for 10 years in power has consistently rejected requests for clemency from both Mary Jane’s family and the Philippine government.

“President Jokowi has maintained a firm stance against granting clemency in drug-related cases,” he said.

The request for Mary Jane’s transfer was submitted to Indonesia by Philippine Justice Minister Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Yusril confirmed that the matter had been thoroughly discussed within Indonesian government departments and that President Prabowo Subianto had approved the prisoner transfer policy.

Yusril mentioned that the transfer of Mary Jane is expected to take place in December 2024. Other countries, including Australia and France, have also submitted similar requests for the transfer of their citizens convicted in Indonesia.

In response to a recent statement from President Marcos on social media, Yusril reiterated that the transfer of Mary Jane is a result of diplomatic negotiations and is not a sign of her release.

President Marcos had expressed gratitude for the cooperation from Indonesian authorities, thanking them for facilitating her return to the Philippines after a decade of diplomatic efforts. (Uki Ruknuddin)

YouTube player