Serge Atlaoui: French National to be Repatriated After Two Decades on Death Row
Serge Atlaoui, a French national on death row in Indonesia for 20 years, is set to be repatriated on February 4. Arrested in 2005 for drug offenses, his death sentence was confirmed in 2007. A recent agreement between Indonesia and France allows him to serve his life sentence in France, emphasizing legal cooperation between both countries.
Indonesia and France have formalized an agreement enabling the repatriation of Serge Atlaoui, a French national who has endured two decades on death row for alleged drug offenses. Atlaoui, arrested in 2005 for purportedly working in an MDMA manufacturing facility near Jakarta, will return to France on February 4th, following a letter he wrote requesting transfer to serve his life sentence in France, where the maximum penalty for serious crimes is 30 years.
Initially sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005, his conviction was escalated to death by Indonesia’s Supreme Court in 2007. Atlaoui, a father of four suffering from cancer, consistently insists on his innocence, claiming he was merely employed as a welder unaware of the nature of the chemicals involved. The transfer agreement was signed remotely by Indonesia’s minister of law, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, and France’s minister of justice, Gérald Darmanin.
Fabien Penone, the ambassador of France to Indonesia, expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for its cooperation and highlighted the importance of enhancing legal collaboration between the two nations. Minister Mahendra confirmed that control over Atlaoui’s treatment after repatriation would lie with the French government, underscoring that any decisions regarding pardon or clemency would solely reside with France.
The case has garnered significant attention in France, a country that abolished the death penalty in 1981 and now stands firmly against it globally. Atlaoui received a temporary stay of execution in May 2015 due to pending appeals, but ultimately, these appeals were denied. The timing of this repatriation falls closely after the release of five Australians, part of the
The repatriation of Serge Atlaoui underscores the evolving relationship between Indonesia and France regarding legal matters. It exemplifies France’s consistent stance against the death penalty while allowing Atlaoui the chance to serve his sentence in a country where the penalties are significantly less severe. With Indonesia’s ongoing concerns regarding its drug laws and international drug trafficking, Atlaoui’s case may serve as a catalyst for further discussions on this critical issue.
Original Source: www.euronews.com
