Atlaoui, imprisoned since 2007, was convicted of drug-related crimes but maintains his innocence.
French National Exits Death Row in Indonesia, Heads Home
French National Exits Death Row in Indonesia, Heads Home
Serge Atlaoui’s return follows humanitarian agreement between Indonesia and France due to his cancer diagnosis.
Serge Atlaoui, a French national who had been on death row in Indonesia since 2007, has been freed from prison and is set to return to France as part of a humanitarian agreement between the two nations. Atlaoui, 61, was arrested in 2005 at a Jakarta factory where authorities discovered large quantities of illegal drugs. French officials secured his extradition on January 24, which was influenced by Atlaoui's ongoing battle with cancer, as he has been undergoing weekly treatment.
"It's a miracle," expressed his wife, Sabine Atlaoui, in a statement to France's RTL radio. "He has endured 19 years in prison. He survived an execution." After his release, he will be transferred to French law enforcement at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta before boarding a flight to Paris.
Atlaoui wishes to reunite with his family only after he is officially free, according to his wife. In France, the penalties for similar offenses are significantly less severe, with a maximum of 30 years behind bars, as indicated by Indonesian human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra. The French government now has the authority to decide on potential clemency or sentence reduction for Atlaoui.
Born in Metz, France, Atlaoui has always denied the accusations of drug trafficking, asserting that he was merely installing machinery in the factory when he was arrested. Initially sentenced to life imprisonment, this was later escalated to a death sentence by Indonesia's supreme court. A planned execution in 2015 was halted due to intervention from French authorities.
Recent developments in Indonesia have seen the release of several high-profile prisoners who were subject to strict drug laws, illustrating a potential shift in judicial practices in the country. Among those released were Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina woman who spent nearly 15 years on death row, and members of the notorious 'Bali Nine' drug syndicate. Currently, there are still around 90 foreign nationals awaiting execution in Indonesia.
"It's a miracle," expressed his wife, Sabine Atlaoui, in a statement to France's RTL radio. "He has endured 19 years in prison. He survived an execution." After his release, he will be transferred to French law enforcement at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta before boarding a flight to Paris.
Atlaoui wishes to reunite with his family only after he is officially free, according to his wife. In France, the penalties for similar offenses are significantly less severe, with a maximum of 30 years behind bars, as indicated by Indonesian human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra. The French government now has the authority to decide on potential clemency or sentence reduction for Atlaoui.
Born in Metz, France, Atlaoui has always denied the accusations of drug trafficking, asserting that he was merely installing machinery in the factory when he was arrested. Initially sentenced to life imprisonment, this was later escalated to a death sentence by Indonesia's supreme court. A planned execution in 2015 was halted due to intervention from French authorities.
Recent developments in Indonesia have seen the release of several high-profile prisoners who were subject to strict drug laws, illustrating a potential shift in judicial practices in the country. Among those released were Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina woman who spent nearly 15 years on death row, and members of the notorious 'Bali Nine' drug syndicate. Currently, there are still around 90 foreign nationals awaiting execution in Indonesia.
