Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Indonesia and the Netherlands held talks on transferring Dutch citizens serving sentences in Indonesia, with a focus on legal cooperation and prisoner rights.

“There are currently five Dutch citizens in Indonesian prisons—two for drug offenses and three for various crimes—plus two detainees in immigration custody for administrative issues,” said Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra on Wednesday (19/3/2025).

Indonesia is open to transferring prisoners under fair and secure terms. 

"Any transferred prisoner must complete their sentence as per Indonesian court rulings, though rehabilitation and clemency may follow the receiving country’s laws," he added, as quoted by antaranews.com.

Deputy Minister Otto Hasibuan emphasized ongoing efforts to pass a Prisoner Transfer Bill, strengthening legal frameworks for such agreements.

Dutch Deputy Minister Eric Bezem welcomed Indonesia’s commitment, saying, "This reflects shared principles of justice and humanity." Both sides agreed on further discussions to align legal systems and explore broader judicial cooperation.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)