Coordinating Minister Yusril: Indonesian Citizens Have Not Been Returned From Overseas Because Prisons Are Still Full

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra in a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday (21/10/2025). (ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the Indonesian government had not yet repatriated a single Indonesian citizen (WNI) from abroad, especially Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, due to the problem of correctional institutions (prisons) in the country which were still congested.

The reason, he said, was that Indonesian citizens who were convicted abroad, especially the two countries, the number was very large, so it also involved the problem of financing their repatriation and placing them in prisons.

"Indeed, we are discussing this issue that has not been resolved. It may be discussed now whether it may be implemented next year for its repatriation," Yusril said at a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday, October 21.

If sent back to Indonesia, continued the Coordinating Minister, the prisoners must also arrange the placement of prisons to be closer to their families, taking their human rights into account.

He also gave an example that if the family of the prisoner who was sent home was in Makassar, it was impossible for the inmate to be placed in Batam prison.

"We are currently investigating processes like this and hopefully there can be a way out and it is possible that it can be carried out in stages," he said.

Regarding prisons in Indonesia that are still full of shortness of breath, Yusril hopes that the new Criminal Code (KUHP) which will be implemented on January 2, 2026 can overcome this later.

In the regulation, it is stated that there will be many changes that occur, especially regarding the problems of regulation, transition, and application of restorative justice.

Yusril emphasized that in principle through the National Criminal Code, the Government no longer emphasizes punishment, but rather to increase justice and balance in society.

"Therefore, there will be important changes," he said.

Previously, Yusril revealed that the majority of Indonesian prisoners abroad were in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

According to him, there are around 5,800 Indonesian citizens in various prisons in Malaysia, 82 of whom are death row inmates.

A total of 79 out of a total of 82 Indonesians sentenced to death in Malaysia have been forgiven by the local court.

"Three people are still in the process," said Yusril while saying that no Indonesian death row convicts in Malaysia were executed during a press conference in Jakarta, Thursday (9/10).

Meanwhile, regarding Indonesian prisoners in Saudi Arabia, Yusril did not elaborate on the number further. The local government, said the Coordinating Minister, stated that at any time Indonesia could submit a request for repatriation of prisoners to the King of Saudi Arabia.