Jakarta (CNN Indonesia) — Death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso’s lawyer, Agus Salim, said a Philippine delegation will meet with the Indonesian Attorney General in Jakarta today (July 29).
The purpose of the meeting is to request for permission to gather information from Veloso in order to complete the investigation of the case in the Philippines.
Salim said that aside from the issue of permits, the delegation will also report on the latest developments related to the legal proceedings of Veloso in the Philippines.
“The legal process in the Philippines is still running. Prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines require information for the investigation,” Agus told CNN Indonesia.
Agus added that at present, the DOJ in the Philippines has found other witnesses that will strengthen the fact that Veloso was recruited as a drug courier without her knowledge. Veloso was allegedly recruited by Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao to deliver a suitcase containing 2.6kg of heroin in April 2010.
Veloso was caught in Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta.
Related: DOJ to file criminal cases against Veloso’s alleged recruiters
“After a complete examination, the Department of Justice will decide on the case of Veloso and submit it to the Attorney General in Jakarta,” Agus said.
He hopes that the decision of the Philippine court could eventually help relieve the case of Veloso.
“We hope the lighter penalty could be a life sentence,” said Agus.
DOJ’s Attorney Claro Arellano said they found sufficient evidence to file charges of drug smuggling and illegal recruitment against Sergio and Lacanilao.
“These cases will be filed before the Regional Court of Nueva Ecija,” Arellano was quoted in a Reuters report on May 7.
Arellano explained that the charges are based on complaints from three people that Sergio and Lacanilao recruited to work abroad.
Read more: DOJ says rulings against Sergio, Lacanilao were fair
However, the work was never there, and all three were eventually forced to return to the Philippines.
Additionally, Arellano explained that Veloso’s statement under oath also identified that Sergio and Lacanilao are recruiters who promised jobs in Malaysia.
