TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly stated that the fugitive extradition agreement between Indonesia and Singapore is progressive, as it consists of articles and scopes that are useful for the present and future.

"The Indonesia-Singapore extradition agreement is progressive and flexible for (handling) acts of crime in the present and future," he noted in the ministry’s press release in Jakarta on Friday, March 29.

Yasonna explained that Indonesia and Singapore agreed to extradite anyone in the two countries' territories, who is sought by the state for prosecution, trial, and sentence execution for criminal acts.

In the extradition agreement, there are 31 criminal acts whose fugitives can be extradited, including corruption, money laundering, bribery, banking crimes, narcotics, terrorism and financing of terrorism activities, as well as various other crimes based on the laws of both countries.

Furthermore, the Indonesia-Singapore extradition agreement has a special feature, namely the perpetrator’s nationality is determined at the time the criminal act is committed.

This is carried out to prevent criminal fugitives from evading legal proceedings by changing their citizenship.

"To follow Article 78 of the Criminal Code, this agreement adheres to the retroactive principle for up to 18 years as an effort to reach out to criminal acts committed before the Indonesia-Singapore extradition was agreed," he explained.

He expressed hope that the Indonesia-Singapore extradition agreement would be directly used by law enforcers, so it can provide a deterrent and preventive effect and minimize the likelihood of criminal fugitives escaping.

Indonesia and Singapore began to effectively enforce the fugitive extradition agreement starting March 21, 2024. It was signed by Minister Laoly in Bintan Island on January 25, 2022.

ANTARA

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