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RI, Oz make deal sparing Jessica's life
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Murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso arrives at Pondok Bambu in East Jakarta on Friday. Jessica, who was accused of murdering her friend, Wayan Mirna salihin, will remain in detention while awaiting her trial. ( tribunnews.com/Amriyono Prakoso)
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aw and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly revealed on Monday that the ministry had made a pact with the Australia government to guarantee that murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso would not be sentenced to death.
The pact was made as a requirement for the Indonesian police to have full access to Jessica’s legal and health documents while she was living in Australia, Yasonna said.
“The police requested that Australia authorities show them the documents and they said ‘okay, but our country doesn’t apply the death sentence.’ It is a common practice in a country that doesn’t apply capital punishment,” Yasonna said in Jakarta, adding that if Indonesia had refused to provide the guarantee, the case might remain unresolved.
Yasonna said the deal should not be considered interference in Indonesia’s court system, and that there was no other way the police could have obtained the evidence.
“We offer our thanks to Australia, especially if the information from Australia can add the materials needed by the court. I hope people won’t make a fuss over this guarantee,” Yasonna said. (dan)
