Indonesia Continues To Monitor Mary Jane After Being Transferred To The Philippines

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra /ANTARA

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction Yusril Ihza Mahendra emphasized that the Indonesian government will continue to monitor the development of the death row convict in the drug smuggling case, Mary Jane Veloso, after being transferred to her home country, Philippines.

"(Monitoring is carried out) through diplomatic channels. We have the Manila Embassy in Makati and we have access to monitor what the Philippine government has done to Mary Jane," said Yusril as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, December 6.

According to Yusril, the Philippine Government promised to open access for Indonesia to monitor Mary Jane. He said Mary Jane would later be placed in a correctional institution in Mandaluyong.

"We have access to find out what happened to Mary Jane after being returned to the Philippines," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Philippines Raul T. Vasquez said that after being transferred, Mary Jane would serve a sentence in the Philippines in accordance with the Criminal Code (KUHP) in the country.

Unlike Indonesia, the Philippine Criminal Code does not regulate the death penalty. Regarding this matter, Raul explained, the change in punishment in the form of forgiveness for Mary Jane will be decided by Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"After being transferred to this country, he will serve his sentence in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Philippines. So, we will definitely coordinate with the Indonesian government regarding this and inform them of all developments related to Mary Jane's handling when she is about to be transferred," said Raul.

The Government of Indonesia and the Government of the Philippines have signed a practical arrangement for the transfer of Mary Jane. The document was signed by Yusril and Raul at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration and Indonesian Correctional Affairs on Friday afternoon.

With the signing of the practical agreement, Indonesia-Philippine agreed to send Mary Jane home. The transfer in question will be carried out before Christmas on December 25, 2024.

According to Yusril, Mary Jane's technical repatriation is still under discussion by the Deputy for Immigration and Corrections of the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections. In addition, coordination is also carried out with the Attorney General's Office, Police, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.