JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian officials announced on Monday that two Dutch nationals imprisoned in Indonesia for drug trafficking convictions will be repatriated to the Netherlands later that day. This move follows a bilateral agreement made between the two countries, facilitating the transfer of prisoners. The handover took place at a prison in Jakarta, where the Indonesian authorities transferred the prisoners to Dutch authorities in preparation for an evening flight.
The two men, identified as Siegfried Mets, 74, and Ali Tokman, 65, were both in prison for serious drug offenses. Mets, who had been sentenced to death, was convicted of his involvement in the smuggling of 600,000 ecstasy pills from the Netherlands to Indonesia. He has been incarcerated in Jakarta since February 2008. Tokman, on the other hand, was apprehended at Surabaya airport in December 2014 after customs officers discovered over 6 kilograms (approximately 13.5 pounds) of MDMA, a psychoactive substance. He is serving a life sentence and has spent 11 years in prison.
During the handover, both men were seen wearing baseball caps and bright green T-shirts. They were also reported to be receiving treatment for health issues, which prompted the Netherlands to request their return on humanitarian grounds. Indonesia's deputy minister for immigration and correctional coordination, I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, confirmed at a press conference that the two prisoners would continue their sentences in the Netherlands.
Under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia has arranged for the repatriation of several foreign prisoners as a result of similar bilateral agreements. Among those repatriated were a Filipina who faced the death penalty for drug offenses, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British nationals who also confronted either the death penalty or life imprisonment for drug smuggling into Indonesia.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has identified Indonesia as a significant hub for drug smuggling, despite its stringent drug laws. The country is seen as a target for international drug syndicates, largely due to its youthful population. According to data from the Ministry of Immigration and Corrections, around 530 individuals are currently on death row in Indonesia, predominantly for drug-related crimes, including nearly 100 foreign nationals. The last executions in Indonesia were carried out in July 2016, involving a citizen and three foreigners.
This recent transfer of Dutch nationals highlights Indonesia's ongoing challenges in addressing drug trafficking issues while simultaneously engaging in international cooperation regarding prisoners. The situation reflects the complexities of balancing tough domestic drug laws with humanitarian considerations for foreign nationals imprisoned in the country.
