RI, HK fugitive agreement deliberated

RI, HK fugitive agreement deliberated

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra officially proposed to the House of Representatives on
Monday a bill that would allow the administrations of Indonesia
and Hong Kong to surrender fugitives sought by each other.

"There have been many people who were on trial or had even
been convicted who have subsequently fled abroad, sometimes to
Hong Kong. Had we ratified the agreement then Hong Kong should
have returned those fugitives," Yusril said.

The draft law stipulates that 30 days after the House's
ratification, the agreement will take effect and both parties are
obliged to comply with it. Yusril said during that period the
Indonesian government will inform Hong Kong of the ratification.

The agreement was signed in 1997, but Yusril failed to answer
why the government only sought the House's approval after four
years.

Although not a state, but a special administrative region of
China, the Hong Kong authorities have the right to sign the
agreement with Indonesia.

"This is not an extradition treaty as Hong Kong is not a
state. However, like a treaty, it (the agreement) is legally
binding," Yusril said.

Currently, Indonesia has extradition treaties with Malaysia,
issued in 1974, the Philippines in 1976, Thailand in 1978 and
Australia in 1994.

In their agreement, Indonesia and Hong Kong enlisted 44 legal
offenses subject to the arrangement, including attempted murder,
murder, kidnapping, drug abuse, corruption, bribery, possession
of firearms and fraud. The offenses should be acknowledged by the
two parties.

The two parties will not surrender people who have been
exonerated or released from all charges and are allowed to reject
the demand to surrender their own citizens.

The agreement states that both sides are also allowed to
reject a request to surrender people with a death sentence or who
have committed politically motivated legal offenses.

Singapore

Yasril Baharuddin Ananta, chairman of the House's Commission I
on defense, security and foreign affairs, welcomed the bill but
questioned the absence of an extradition treaty with Singapore.

"We are surprised by the fact that there is no extradition
treaty between Indonesia and Singapore, although the island state
is known as a safe harbor for Indonesians and Singaporeans who
have committed crimes here," he said.

He said the House commission I also questioned Singapore's
commitment to agreeing an extradition treaty with Indonesia.

"We have several times conducted bipartite lobbies but so far,
Singapore has yet to show its commitment," he added.

A source at the foreign ministry told The Jakarta Post the
Indonesian government has several times tried to persuade
Singapore to support the treaty but one of the major obstacles
remained Singapore's refusal to agree on economic crimes.

"I'm sorry to say, Singapore has experienced a lot of this
kind of crime from Indonesian people," the source said, adding
that the foreign ministry has made an extradition treaty with
Singapore a priority. (dja/rms)