Indonesia-Singapore Start Applicating Fugitive Extradition Treaty

Photo archive - Menkumham Yasonna H. Laoly/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Government of Indonesia and the Government of Singapore have begun to enforce an effective agreement on the extradition of fugitives as of March 21, 2024.

"This Indonesia-Singapore extradition agreement is an extraordinary achievement of cooperation in the field of law and is a very important history of diplomatic success," said Indonesian Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham) Yasonna H. Laoly as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, March 29.

This Indonesia-Singapore extradition treaty is the 12th extradition treaty that has been imposed by the Indonesian government after Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong SAR, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, India, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran.

The agreement, which was signed in Bintan, Riau Islands, by Yasonna on January 25, 2022, has been ratified through Law Number 5 of 2023 concerning Ratification of Agreements between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore concerning the Extradition of Fugitives.

According to Yasonna, the agreement is a history of the success of Indonesian diplomacy considering that Singapore previously only had a framework for extradition cooperation with certain countries and jurisdictions.

"The United States, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, and countries that are members of the COMmonwealth of nations (tensil countries, ed.)," he added.

Yasonna explained that Singapore's current status as one of the world's largest economic centers is also a consideration that Indonesia and Singapore must be bound by an extradition treaty.

In addition, the extradition agreement also complements and perfects the commitment of the two countries in legal cooperation, particularly regarding the repatriation of fugitives who commit crimes to their home countries.

"Indonesia and Singapore already have mutual aid agreements in criminal matters (ASEAN Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty) as the basis for various forms of legal cooperation, including related to the search for criminals, return of testimony, search and confiscation of criminal assets," said the Minister of Law and Human Rights.