A French national held on death row in Indonesia since 2007 for drug offences is returning to France on Tuesday as part of an agreement made between both countries. Serge Atlaoui, 61, was accused of being a "chemist" by Indonesian authorities and arrested in 2005 at a factory in Jakarta, where dozens of kilos (pounds) of drugs were found. An agreement was made between Indonesia and France on 24 January to extradite the father-of-four on "humanitarian grounds" because he has cancer and has been receiving weekly treatment at a hospital.
"It's a miracle," his wife Sabine Atlaoui told France's RTL radio. "He survived 19 years of incarceration. He survived an execution." The 61-year-old was handed over to French police at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and took off on a commercial flight to Paris at 19:35 local time (12:35 GMT), an official told the AFP news agency.
When he lands on Wednesday morning, Atlaoui will be presented to prosecutors "and most likely detained as he awaits a decision" about his future sentencing, his lawyer Richard Sedillot told AFP. The maximum punishment for a similar crime in France is 30 years, Indonesia's human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra told Reuters. It will be up to Paris to grant "clemency, amnesty, or a reduced sentence," he said. Mr Sedillot expressed delight over the extradition and pledged to "ensure the sentence is adapted to conditions which will allow his release."
Atlaoui, who has always denied being a drug trafficker, expressed to his family his desire not to meet them at the airport. His wife explained, "He wants to see his family again when he is free. Unfortunately, we do not know how long it will take." Originally sentenced to life, Atlaoui's verdict was escalated to death on appeal by Indonesia's Supreme Court. His execution was scheduled for 2015 but postponed due to intense pressure from the French government.
Recently, Indonesia has released several high-profile detainees imprisoned under its strict drug laws, such as Filipina Mary Jane Veloso, who had been on death row for nearly 15 years, and the remaining members of the "Bali Nine" drug ring, who were returned to Australia. There are around 90 foreigners on death row, with Atlaoui being the only Frenchman currently facing capital punishment.
Following his extradition, Atlaoui was driven from Salemba prison and escorted to Soekarno-Hatta Airport, where he boarded his flight to Paris. Indonesian officials emphasized the importance of human dignity and justice during his transfer. Ahmad Usmarwi Kaffah, aide to Indonesia's senior minister for legal affairs, stated, "We emphasise the importance of respecting values of humanity, international law, and human rights principles... and we are sending him home today."
Atlaoui's extradition is more than just a personal victory; it reflects shifting attitudes within Indonesia's judicial system as it considers reforms related to its overcrowded prisons. His case also brings to light the often harsh reality faced by foreign nationals embroiled in drug-related offenses under Indonesia's stringent legal framework.
This recent development marks another chapter for Atlaoui, who had been attempting to return home since making direct pleas to the Indonesian government for relocation due to his deteriorated health. Following decades of tumult and uncertainty, the hope now lies with the French legal system, where his future sentencing could potentially lean toward clemency.
Upon his return, Atlaoui's lawyer is ready to advocate for him, aiming to highlight his lengthy incarceration and the humanitarian grounds upon which his extradition was granted. The legal proceedings he faces will be pivotal—whether he receives merely time served or has the chance for release altogether will depend on the French judicial perspective.
Atlaoui's long fight against the death penalty now shifts to France as he awaits the outcomes of the legal process surrounding his situation. The case is emblematic of broader discussions about punitive measures for drug offenses, especially for non-violent offenders, both domestically and internationally.
Serge Atlaoui returns not just as a man seeking freedom but as an individual representing countless others caught within the fierce grip of drug laws deemed unforgiving.