France Agrees On Nearly 90 Percent Of The Terpidana Mati Transfer Requirements Serge Atlaoui

Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra (photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The French government has basically agreed on the conditions proposed by the Government of Indonesia regarding the transfer of the death row convict Serge Areski Atlaui.

This was said by the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra quoting Antara.

"Almost 90 percent have been agreed upon and France has explained in more detail to us that if a case like this in France is punished for how long, they have explained. If it is transferred there, what will be done by the French government, they will explain it a bit clearly," said Yusril quoting Antara.

According to Yusril, Serge's transfer requirement was the same as the condition for the transfer of the death row convict Mary Jane to the Philippines and the transfer of five inmates from the Bali Nine case to Australia. Mary Jane and five Bali Nine inmates have been transferred to their home country in December 2024.

One of the conditions in question is that the French government must recognize the Indonesian court's decision. In this case, France must admit that Serge, a citizen of his country, is a convict who was sentenced to death.

The authority to foster prisoners will be handed over to the country concerned after being transferred. Indonesia will also respect the policies that will be taken by France, including if it grants clemency to Serge.

"So, if later the French government will grant clemency to a limited sentence, for example for life or a life sentence of 20 years, it is a decision from the French President that we must respect," said Yusril.

Under French law, Serge's case was sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison. Serge may be released if his government changes his sentence to 20 years in prison, given that he has served a prison sentence of about 20 years in Indonesia.

However, Serge's fate after being moved is still under discussion. According to Yusril, the Government of Indonesia and France are negotiating several main things, including the draft of the practical arrangement agreement for the transfer of Serge.

The French government, he said, had also approved a practical arrangement for the transfer of Serge to be signed by the Minister of Justice of France and the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Kumham Imipas) of the Republic of Indonesia. The signing is likely done online because it considers the distance aspect.

"Maybe in February it can be agreed between our government and the French government," said Yusril.

Previously, Yusril when confirmed by ANTARA via a short message in Jakarta, Sunday (12/29/2024), explained that France had sent a letter requesting the official transfer of Serge Atlaui on Thursday (19/12/2024). The letter was sent on behalf of the Minister of Justice of France addressed to the Minister of Imipas RI.

Serge Atlaoui was a death row convict in the case of the operation of an ecstasy factory in Cikande, Tangerang, Banten, in 2005. He has repeatedly applied for pardons to the Indonesian government, but the effort ended in aground.

Serge Atlaoui's execution in 2015 was suspended so that the French citizen was still in prison. Yusril explained that Serge Atlaui was later temporarily transferred from Nusakambangan to the Salemba Penitentiary for cancer.