Indonesia readies Mary Jane Veloso repatriation by January

Mary Jane Veloso —PHOTO COURTESY OF JARINGAN TOLAK HUKUMAN MATI (ANTICAPITAL PUNISHMENT NETWORK)

JAKARTA — Indonesia plans to return prisoners from Australia, France, and the Philippines by the end of the year, a minister said on Thursday.

High-profile detainees include Mary Jane Veloso saved from execution and the remaining members of Australia’s “Bali Nine”, all convicted on drugs charges.

“Our target is hopefully at the end of December, the transfers of these prisoners will have been completed,” said senior minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

The announcement came after Yusril said last week that President Prabowo Subianto “approved the transfer” of Veloso.

The death row prisoner was granted a stay of execution in 2015, five years after being arrested with a suitcase lined with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin.

Veloso, whose case sparked uproar in the Philippines, said last week she was “very elated” after hearing she may soon return home.

READ: Ma excited to cook Mary Jane Veloso’s ‘homecoming’ meal

‘Bali Nine’ also in lineup

Talks are also ongoing with Canberra over the transfer of five Australians arrested in 2005 as part of a drug ring.

Two of the “Bali Nine” gang were executed by firing squad, one died of cancer and another was released in 2018.

Matthew Norman, Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens remain in jail after being convicted for trying to smuggle more than 8 kilograms of heroin off the holiday island of Bali.

Yusril, whose portfolio covers law, human rights, immigration, and corrections, said he would discuss their case during the visit of Australian Home Minister Tony Burke next week.

The Indonesian minister said the government is also coordinating with Paris “about the possibility to transfer a French citizen,” without identifying the prisoner.

Yusril reiterated Jakarta’s preference for detainees to complete their jail time back home.

“We are transferring them to their countries so they can serve their sentence there, but if the countries want to give amnesty, we respect it. It’s their right,” he said. —AFP