Bill on fugitive extradition treaty between Indonesia and Singapore was passed into law by the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on Thursday (Dec. 15).

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Bill on fugitive extradition treaty between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore has been officially passed into law.

Bill on fugitive extradition was passed into law by the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta on Thursday (Dec. 15), the Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat said in a statement received here on Saturday.

"The cooperation on extradition with Singapore will make it easier for law enforcement officials to resolve criminal cases involving perpetrators who are in Singapore," Indonesia’s Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly said.

In addition, the minister further said that the agreement on the extradition of fugitives between Indonesia and Singapore is supported by the close bilateral and geopolitical relations between the two countries to prevent potential law enforcement problems arising in the boundaries of these jurisdictions.

“The approval of the extradition law is the legal basis for the Indonesian government so that it can provide legal certainty for the two countries regarding the extradition agreement," he said.

Building international cooperation in the form of an extradition treaty was an effort by the Indonesian government to provide justice and protection for the Indonesian people, Yasonna said, adding that it also constitutes Indonesia’s active role in maintaining world order.

The extradition agreement between the governments of Indonesia and Singapore cannot be separated from Singapore's position as a country directly adjacent to Indonesia.

With the high intensity of movement of citizens of the two countries, as well as Indonesia's policy of including Singapore on the list of visa-free countries, Singapore is often the final destination or transit destination for criminals.

For information, extradition is an instrument of law enforcement in the surrender of every person within the jurisdiction of a country to a country authorized to try, for the purpose of the judicial process or the imposition and execution of a sentence for a crime that can be extradited.

Reporting by Indonesia Window