Even though there is no extradition treaty with Indonesia, it does not mean that Singapore has always allowed perpetrators of crimes, including corruption, from this country to live comfortably.
By
KOMPAS EDITOR
·3 minutes read
BPMI Sekretariat Presiden
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Joko Widodo gave a joint statement after the Leaders' Retreat in Bintan, Riau Islands, Tuesday (25/1/2022).
Singapore for some Indonesian people is considered a haven for perpetrators of corruption. Many perpetrators of corruption in this country have fled and enjoy a comfortable life there.
In fact, many corruption perpetrators from Indonesia who live in Singapore have also developed businesses, including those involved in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance Fund (BLBI) case. The close distance from Jakarta is one of the considerations for criminals who are able to run away to Singapore. Another consideration is the absence of an extradition treaty between Indonesia and Singapore.
Even though there is no extradition treaty with Indonesia, it does not mean that Singapore has always allowed perpetrators of crimes, including corruption, from this country to live comfortably, including hiding their property and family.
As a fellow member of ASEAN, there is legal assistance provided by Singapore so that criminals from Indonesia can be repatriated. The latest case is the repatriation of a murder convict, Hendra Subrata, in June 2021.
Previously, a number of corruption perpetrators from Indonesia were also repatriated from Singapore, including Gayus Tambunan, Nunun Nurbaiti and Joko S Tjandra, as well as illegal logging perpetrator, Adelin Lies. Of course, there are still criminals or those involved in cases in Indonesia who are now living in the “city of lions”, but no doubt the extradition agreement between Indonesia and Singapore, which was signed by Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H Laoly in Bintan, Riau Islands, Tuesday (25/1/2022), will make them nervous. (Kompas, 26-27/1/2022).
PASCAL BIN SADJU
A general view of the financial district in Singapore on May 13, 2020.
The extradition agreement aims to prevent and eradicate transnational criminal acts, such as corruption, illicit drug trafficking and terrorism. It is one of three strategic agreements reached by Singapore and Indonesia. Other agreements include air space services, or the flight information region (FIR), and defense cooperation. The agreements were signed in the presence of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Indonesia and Singapore began discussing the extradition agreement in the early 1970s. However, it proved difficult to materialize because of various conflicts of interest.
In 2016 the agreement was again discussed, finally agreed on 25 January this year before the heads of government of the two countries.
In 2007, representatives of the two countries signed the agreement in Bali, along with the signing of the defense cooperation agreement (DCA). However, the agreement was not ratified by the House of Representatives. In 2016 the agreement was again discussed, finally agreed on 25 January this year before the heads of government of the two countries.
Now is the time for the House to ratify the extradition agreement of the two countries into law as evidence of the support of the people's representatives in eradicating corruption and other crimes. Without ratification, it is impossible to implement the agreement. There should no longer be a place considered comfortable for perpetrators of corruption or other crimes from Indonesia.
