Returning To The Philippines, Mary Jane Will Continue Her Sentence

TANGERANG - Acting Deputy Coordinator of Immigration and Corrections at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights, Kumham Impias, I Nyoman Gede Surya revealed that the death row convict Mary Jane Veloso will continue to serve her sentence in the Philippines.

Status masih terpidana. Saat di Filipina pun statusnya sama dan dia dipenjara di sana, kata Surya kepada wartawan di Terminal 2F Bandara Soekarno Hatta (Soetta), Kota Tangerang, Selasa, 17 Desember.

He explained that even though Mary Jane had been transferred, her status was still a convict. However, the punishment depends on the provisions in force in his country.

"The Philippine government has the authority to provide clemency, remission, or amnesty, according to the laws in force in the country," he said.

In addition, he explained, after moving to the Philippines, Mary Jane was still included in the silting list in Indonesian territory.

"Arangan masuk kembali ke Indonesia, Mary Jane ditambahkan dalam daftar dakal untuk masuk wilayah Indonesia, sesuai dengan hukum nasional Indonesia," jelas dia.

Previously, the death row convict for drug smuggling, Mary Jane Veloso, had been transferred from the Yogyakarta Class IIB Women's Prison to the Class IIA Women's Prison Pondok Bambu, Jakarta.

This transfer was carried out as part of preparations for his return to the Philippines which is scheduled to take place before Christmas 2024.

"The pick-up activities of inmate Mary Jane Veloso are running safely and conducively," said Deputy Coordinator of Immigration and Corrections, Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, on Monday 16 December.

Mary Jane was dispatched from Yogyakarta to Jakarta on Sunday 15 December. The pick-up process starts at 22.30 WIB at the Yogyakarta Women's Prison, by checking the administration and handing over documents.

The Satopspatnal Team of the Directorate General of Corrections (Ditjen PAS) took Mary Jane and her luggage in an official vehicle that departed at 23.00 WIB.

This trip was also accompanied by an escort car from the Gunung Kidul Prosecutor's Office. The transfer of Mary Jane to Jakarta is a follow-up to the practical agreement signed between Coordinating Minister for Kumham Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Deputy Minister of Justice of the Philippines, Raul T. Vasquez, on December 6, 2024.

"God willing, repatriation will be carried out before Christmas, on December 25," said Yusril.

Yusril also said that the Philippine Government had approved all conditions submitted by Indonesia regarding the transfer of Mary Jane.

The plan is that Mary Jane will be sent home on December 20, 2024 to testify in the case of human trafficking in the Philippines involving Maria Kristina Sergio, one of the main suspects.

The Mary Jane Veloso case has become an international spotlight because it involves human trafficking issues and cross-border drug trafficking.

The Philippine government has asked Mary Jane's repatriation to ensure her testimony can strengthen the legal process against human trafficking networks.