Indonesia Faces Budget Hurdles in Bringing Home Overseas Prisoners

3 hours ago 4

October 22, 2025 | 11:22 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The number of Indonesian citizens convicted abroad has reached thousands. However, the government has yet to repatriate any of these Indonesian convicts.

Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the Coordinating Minister of Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Facilities, stated that the delay is due to several reasons. "First, it is related to the issue of funding," Yusril said on Tuesday, October 31, 2025.

According to him, repatriating thousands of convicts from abroad requires a substantial budget, making it difficult to carry out in the near future. "It may be implemented next year because it concerns the budget," he added.

In addition, prison facilities in Indonesia are considered unprepared to accommodate such a large number of additional convicts. "The prisons are currently overcrowded everywhere," Yusril told journalists.

The repatriation of thousands of Indonesian convicts may only be possible gradually, in small numbers. This slow approach is necessary due to several conditions the government must consider, such as cost constraints and prison overcrowding.

However, Yusril stated that the government will at least repatriate one Indonesian citizen currently serving a sentence in the Philippines in the near future. "Perhaps this can be carried out next year because it involves only one person," Yusril said.

Previously, Yusril stated that thousands of Indonesian citizens are convicts in Malaysia. "There are 5,800 Indonesian citizens imprisoned in various Malaysian prisons," he reported on Thursday, October 9, 2025.

According to Yusril, 82 of the 5,800 Malaysian convicts have been sentenced to death. Until now, however, none of the death row convicts have been executed.

In addition to Malaysia, the majority of Indonesian convicts are known to be in Saudi Arabia. "So, the most convicts are in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia," Yusril noted during a press conference at that time.

Yusril claimed that government authorities in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia have actually given the green light for Indonesia to submit a repatriation request. "It is up to our readiness; we need deeper internal coordination," he concluded.

Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to the report

Editor’s Choice: Indonesia Set to Repatriate Two British Prisoners, One on Death Row

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Government Positions for Prabowo's Close Associates

1 jam lalu

Government Positions for Prabowo's Close Associates

Prabowo gives people close to him government positions, going as far as to create entirely new positions for his followers.

Indonesia's Online Gambling Deposits Reach Rp17 Trillion During January-June 2025, Says Gov't

2 jam lalu

Indonesia's Online Gambling Deposits Reach Rp17 Trillion During January-June 2025, Says Gov't

Indonesian gov't states that online gambling had emerged as a real threat to the national economy and the future of the younger generation.

15 Local Governments in Indonesia with the Biggest Bank Deposits, According to Minister Purbaya

3 jam lalu

15 Local Governments in Indonesia with the Biggest Bank Deposits, According to Minister Purbaya

According to Purbaya, the allocated funds from the central government to the regions are available and ready to be used to support development in each region.

Oversupply Leads to Tens of Thousands of Tons of Rice Going Bad, Says Indonesian Minister

3 jam lalu