The Indonesian government should not let Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso return to the Philippines for questioning as a witness in a human trafficking case, as she is still facing the legal process in Indonesia, a lawmaker has said.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu, who is also a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission III overseeing legal affairs, said that despite a last minute reprieve granted to Veloso, the government must not disregard the crime she committed on Indonesian soil.
He said removing Veloso from Indonesian jurisdiction for questioning as a witness in the Philippines would see Indonesia lose its chance to uphold the law for the crime she committed, he said.
“Don’t let her go back to the Philippines. If the Philippine authorities want to question her for [the human trafficking] case, they should come here and do it, or use a teleconference,” Masinton explained in a discussion forum at the Regional Representatives Council building on Wednesday.
He urged the government to stand firm on its decision to execute Veloso.
Veloso was granted a delay in her execution at the last minute on Wednesday after a woman claiming to have recruited her for the crime turned herself in to the Philippine authorities on Tuesday.
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