Indonesia to Repatriate Two Dutch Drug Convicts

Published: 03 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Indonesia and the Netherlands have reached an agreement to repatriate two elderly Dutch nationals serving prison sentences in Indonesia for drug offences—one on death row and the other serving a life sentence. The repatriation, requested by the Dutch government on humanitarian grounds, was approved in October by Indonesian authorities, citing health concerns for both men.

Siegfried Mets, 74, was sentenced to death in 2008 for smuggling 600,000 ecstasy pills and is imprisoned in Jakarta. Ali Tokman, 65, was sentenced to death in 2015 for smuggling 6kg of MDMA, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment; he is held in Surabaya. Both men are expected to return to Amsterdam on 8 December.

The agreement was formalized on Tuesday in Jakarta by Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law and human rights, with Dutch foreign minister David van Weel signing virtually. Marc Gerritsen, the Dutch ambassador to Indonesia, welcomed the decision, saying it brings the two men closer to their families.

Indonesia currently has around 500 prisoners on death row, many convicted of drug offences. The country has previously repatriated foreign nationals on death row for health reasons, including British and French prisoners in recent months.

The Dutch government expressed deep appreciation for Indonesia’s cooperation and emphasized that the fate of the two men after repatriation will be determined by Dutch authorities. While five Dutch nationals remain imprisoned in Indonesia, only these two were requested for repatriation. The deal reflects ongoing humanitarian collaboration between the two countries in cases involving elderly or infirm prisoners.