Extradition Treaty
Indonesia has signed a defence and extradition treaty with Singapore.
On 28th April president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witnessed the signing of the treaty by the countries’ respective foreign ministers with on the sunny island paradise of Bali.
All smiles.
The treaty allows for the extradition of Indonesian nationals who have fled to Singapore in the cases of 31 defined crimes, mostly in the financial and corruption area, and it acts retroactively for 15 years. It also covers defence co-operation and military training matters.
Lee Hsien Loong denied that his island state was a haven for funny money and criminals:
Our rules protect legitimate depositors, we do not protect criminals.
Indonesia had long accused Singapore of delaying the treaty on fears Indonesian hide-outs would withdraw their money and upset Singapore’s financial system, particularly its housing property sector.
It is said that Indonesian police have already drawn up a list of 20 suspects living in Singapore who they now hope to extradite, these men being mostly bankers and businessmen who stole state funds intended to prop up failing banks and other businesses in the late 1990’s. [1]
Bandoro Bantarto.
Many commentators and politicians in Indonesia have however complained that the treaty benefits Singapore much more, especially in the defence area. CSIS analyst Bandoro Bantarto was one who said Singapore gained the use of much needed defence training facilities and grounds from Indonesia, things they didn’t have enough space for on their little island, while Indonesia received little benefit in this respect. [2]
