In a significant diplomatic move, Indonesia has agreed to repatriate two Dutch nationals convicted of serious drug offences, including one man who has been on death row for 17 years.
Details of the Landmark Agreement
The agreement was formally signed by officials in both Jakarta and Amsterdam on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. Indonesia’s senior law minister, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, confirmed the deal followed a direct request from the Dutch King and Foreign Ministry. He stated that the request was approved by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, with the transfer expected to take place on 8 December.
Minister Mahendra cited the prisoners' poor health as a contributing factor. The Dutch Foreign Minister, David van Weel, signed the accord at a separate ceremony in Amsterdam, witnessed by delegations from both nations.
Profiles of the Convicted Men
The prisoner facing execution is Siegfried Mets, 74. He was convicted for his role in a plot to smuggle 600,000 ecstasy pills from the Netherlands to Indonesia in February 2008 and has been imprisoned in Jakarta for 17 years.
The second individual is Ali Tokman, 65. He was arrested at Surabaya airport in December 2014 after customs officials discovered just over 6 kilograms of MDMA in his possession. Tokman has served 11 years of a life sentence.
Broader Context and International Relations
Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia, Marc Gerritsen, expressed profound gratitude, stating the request was made on humanitarian grounds to allow the detainees to be closer to their families. He emphasised that the prison transfer underscores the strong cooperation between the two countries in justice and law.
This decision aligns with a pattern under President Prabowo's administration, which has repatriated several foreign prisoners through bilateral agreements. Previous cases include a Filipina on death row, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British nationals also facing severe penalties for drug smuggling.
Despite having some of the world's strictest anti-narcotics laws, Indonesia remains a major hub for international drug syndicates. Official data reveals that about 530 people are currently on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug crimes, including nearly 100 foreigners. The country last carried out executions in July 2016.
