Yusril: There Has Been No Discussion On Reynhard Sinaga's Repatriation With The UK

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra said there had been no discussion regarding the repatriation of convicts for life in the case of Reynhard Sinaga sexual assault with the British government.

The statement was in response to a reciprocal agreement in the repatriation of two narcotics convicts, Lindsay June Sandiford and Shahab Shahabadi, to England.

"There has been no decision from the Indonesian government to ask Indonesian citizens in the UK to be returned to Indonesia. So until today there has been no," said Yusril at a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 21.

Reynhard Sinaga is an Indonesian citizen (WNI) who was sentenced to life in 2020 by the Manchester Court, England, after being found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting 48 British men.

Reynhard committed the crime for about two and a half years. The judge said Reynhard had to serve 30 years in prison, before being allowed to file a pardon.

Recently, Reynhard was attacked by other inmates in British prisons, who threatened his life. The convict who attacked Reynhard is currently being tried by the Manchester Court.

Previously, the Minister of Immigration and Corrections (Imipas) Agus Andrianto considered it more beneficial for the government to repatriate Indonesian citizens (WNI) abroad who had a good record.

"I think it's more useful for us to just return the good, yes," said Agus at the Cipinang Class I Detention Center, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/2), when asked about the repatriation of the convict in the case of sexual violence in England, Reynhard Sinaga.

According to Agus, the repatriation of Indonesian citizens with legal problems abroad has attracted the attention of the government. Moreover, Indonesia already has agreements with several countries after repatriating foreign prisoners to their home countries, such as Australia, France, and the Philippines.

"Yesterday there was an agreement that it must be reciprocal, what they received, yes, we will also ask that they treat the same (of) our citizens who serve their sentences there," said Agus.

In addition, Agus said that there has been no significant development regarding the discourse on the repatriation of Reynhard Sinaga from England. According to him, the Ministry of Imipas has not been involved in discussing this matter.

The Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Kemenko Kumham Imipas) previously discussed that Reynhard Sinaga be returned to Indonesia from England. Efforts to return Reynhard were carried out through bilateral negotiations.

"We will do our best to return the person concerned, the British Embassy will negotiate with us in the near future, hopefully we can return it," said Special Staff for International Relations at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Rights, Kumham Imipas Ahmad Usmarwi Kaffah in Tangerang, Tuesday (4/2).

However, Coordinating Minister for Kumham Imipas Yusril Ihza Mahendra ensured that Reynhard Sinaga's repatriation was not a priority for the government.

According to him, the government is focusing on legal diplomacy efforts to save Indonesian workers (TKI) who are threatened with the death penalty.

"Reynhard Sinaga is not a priority for us because the issue he is very sensitive," said Yusril at the Presidential Palace complex, Jakarta, Thursday (20/2).