In response to articles in the Indonesian media published on 30 March 2017 carrying comments made by senior Indonesian National Police (POLRI) officials on the Extradition Treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance requests, the MFA Spokesman said:
“The articles quoted Indonesian National Police (POLRI) Head for International Relations Inspector General Saiful Maltha saying that Singapore “did not want” to engage in cooperation with Indonesia on the Extradition Treaty and Mutual Legal Assistance requests. Inspector General Saiful said that Indonesia had sent a draft of the Treaty to Singapore but did not receive a reply. The articles also quoted Secretary of the National Central Bureau Indonesia Brigadier-General Naufal Yahya, saying that “Singapore lives on investment. If the suspect does not invest there, he would surely have been driven out on the pretext of overstaying.” These comments are factually incorrect and mischievous. They also do not reflect the good cooperation between the two law enforcement agencies especially coming from two senior officials.
Singapore has stated clearly the facts of the issue on numerous occasions. Singapore and Indonesia signed the Extradition Treaty and Defence Cooperation Agreement as a package in April 2007 in Bali. The signing of the package was witnessed by then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Both agreements are still pending ratification by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR). Singapore is ready to proceed with both agreements once Indonesia is ready to do so.
Singapore and Indonesia enjoy good bilateral cooperation in law enforcement and in dealing with criminal matters. Singapore and Indonesia are party to the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Treaty Amongst Like-minded ASEAN Member States under which cooperation already takes place in line with Singapore’s domestic laws and international obligations. In fact, we have provided assistance to Indonesia on its MLA requests. Singapore looks forward to receiving similar cooperation from Indonesia.”
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
2 APRIL 2017