Dutch Embassy Speaks Up About Maria Lumowa

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Dutch Embassy to Indonesia has spoken up about the extradition of Maria Lumowa, a fugitive in a high-profile embezzlement case involving Bank BNI, from Serbia to Indonesia. Maria reportedly secured Dutch citizenship in 1979.

“The Dutch Embassy confirms that a Dutch citizen has been detained and taken to Indonesia,” said a spokesperson of the embassy to Tempo on Friday, July 10.

However, the Dutch Embassy to Indonesia was non-committal towards the statement of Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, who said a European country tried to lobby the Serbian government into canceling the extradition. The embassy only underlined that the repatriation process was a bilateral affair between Serbia and Indonesia.

As a Dutch citizen, Maria will receive complete consular assistance from the embassy, but not legal assistance. “According to our standard rules, the embassy does not provide legal assistance,” said the spokesperson.

Maria was extradited to Indonesia in cooperation with the Serbian authorities on Thursday, July 9, after being a fugitive for 17 years.

Previously, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that Maria would still be entitled to her rights during the ensuing legal proceedings in Indonesia and allowed to appoint her own advocates.

Mahfud added that Maria Lumowa claimed she already had legal representations from the Dutch Embassy. “Because she is a Dutch citizen,” he said.

Read: Indonesia Extradites Fugitive Maria Lumowa from Serbia

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