Indonesia is repatriating Serge Atlaoui, a French national on death row since 2007 for drug offenses. He will return to France on February 4 after a repatriation agreement was signed by officials from both countries. Atlaoui maintains his innocence regarding the drug charges that led to his death sentence.
A recent agreement between Indonesia and France facilitates the repatriation of Serge Atlaoui, a French man who has spent over 19 years on death row for drug-related offenses. Atlaoui is set to return to France on February 4, following a previous request he made to serve his sentence in France, where drug trafficking carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.
Atlaoui’s case began in 2005 when he was arrested for allegedly operating a factory producing the drug MDMA. Despite being convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment, his sentence was elevated to death by Indonesia’s Supreme Court in 2007. Atlaoui, a father of four who claims innocence, maintained that he only worked as a welder and lacked knowledge of the activities at the factory.
The transfer agreement was signed remotely by Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s minister of law, and Gérald Darmanin, the French minister of justice. Mahendra emphasized that once Atlaoui is repatriated, the French government will oversee his treatment and any potential clemency.
France’s ambassador to Indonesia expressed gratitude toward the Indonesian government for accommodating Atlaoui’s request, highlighting a desire to strengthen bilateral relations and legal cooperation between the two countries. Atlaoui’s situation has garnered significant attention in France, where there is strong opposition to the death penalty.
The repatriation of Serge Atlaoui marks a significant development in intergovernmental cooperation between Indonesia and France regarding the handling of death penalty cases. The agreement illustrates a growing partnership that respects legal frameworks of both nations, coinciding with broader discussions on the death penalty and drug trafficking laws in Indonesia.
Original Source: www.euronews.com
