Indonesia to deport former Philippine town mayor accused of cybercrime by Manila

News on September 5, 2024. Indonesia has agreed to deport dismissed Philippine town mayor Alice Go. On September 2, Go was arrested by Indonesian police in the suburbs of Jakarta. She is accused in Manila of helping to establish illegal online gambling and fraud centers and evading a Philippine Senate investigation. In exchange, Indonesia hopes that the Philippines will deport Australian Gregor John Haas, who is one of Indonesia's most wanted drug trafficking suspects and was arrested in central Philippines in May.

The director general of the Immigration Directorate General of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia, Hilmy Karim, confirmed that Go will be deported to Manila on a chartered flight on the afternoon of the 5th. The original plan was to undergo a medical examination at the police headquarters first and then be handed over to the Philippine Senate. Philippine President Marcos thanked Indonesia for arresting Go. Go denied any wrongdoing but was dismissed by the Philippine Office of the Ombudsman for serious misconduct. After Go fled the Philippines in July, she was tracked down in Malaysia and Singapore and later appeared in Indonesia. Two of her companions have already been deported back to the Philippines.

In July, Marcos ordered a ban on the widespread online gambling business. The Philippine interior minister and the national police chief flew to Jakarta on Thursday to hold talks with their Indonesian counterparts. The Indonesian ambassador to Manila said that the talks on Thursday have just begun. Haas is accused of being a member of a large international organized crime group. In December last year, he tried to smuggle drugs into Indonesia. Australia has abolished the death penalty. Some officials are worried that if Haas is deported to Indonesia, he may face the death penalty. According to Indonesia's strict drug laws, Haas may face the death penalty carried out by a firing squad. Australia's extradition law also does not allow anyone to be extradited to a country where the death penalty may be imposed.