Indonesia offered fugitive Philippine ex-mayor Alice Guo as prisoner swap for Gregor Haas

Indonesian officials confirmed discussions of a swap for the Australian drug suspect in exchange for Guo’s extradition from the country

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Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo. Photo: Facebook / Alice Guo

Published: 7:56pm, 5 Sep 2024Updated: 5:14pm, 9 Sep 2024

The extradition of Alice Guo to the Philippines after her arrest in Jakarta appears to have involved a deal made with Indonesian authorities to exchange the fugitive former mayor for Gregor Haas, an Australian drug trafficking suspect currently in Manila’s custody.

The head of the Indonesian National Police’s International Relations Division, Inspector General Krishna Murti, told reporters on Thursday that the extradition of Haas was discussed as part of a barter deal for the capture of Guo.

“God willing, it will be implemented with the correct process and time while we wait for the results,” Krishna said, noting the Philippine government had not placed any formal conditions on handing over Haas.

He also described the barter deal as the result of an agreement between Indonesia and the Philippines through “police-to-police cooperation”.

Although Philippine government officials did not respond to This Week in Asia for comment on Haas’ case, the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration said on Thursday that Haas could not yet leave the country yet as he is still facing pending charges.

“He has a pending case in the Philippines; that’s why the implementation of deportation is not yet, he is not for deportation yet,” immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval told reporters.