Poland Becomes First EU Country to Sign MLA Agreement with Indonesia
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Poland has become the first European Union (EU) country to establish a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in Criminal Matters agreement with Indonesia, according to an announcement from the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights. This milestone, highlighted by General Legal Administration Director General Cahyo R. Muzhar, is seen as a critical step for Indonesia in enhancing law enforcement cooperation with other EU member countries.
The bilateral MLA agreement was finalized in Warsaw on June 12, 2024, as a demonstration of the commitment between the Indonesian and Polish governments to bolster cross-border law enforcement. Muzhar led the Indonesian delegation, while the Polish delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Justice Krzysztof Smiszek.
“MLA is an international cooperation mechanism that allows a country to request assistance from another country to obtain evidence to support investigation, prosecution, and examination processes in court,” Muzhar elaborated. He further detailed that the agreement comprises 28 articles, encompassing requests for mutual assistance in criminal matters such as identifying and searching for individuals, taking witness statements, submitting court letters or documents, and conducting searches and confiscations.
Discussions on the MLA bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Poland have been ongoing since 2018, culminating in the recent agreement. The formal signing by the law ministers of both countries is scheduled for late 2024.
Since 2013, Indonesia has received 54 MLA requests from Poland, primarily related to fraud and cybercrime. Muzhar emphasized the strategic importance of this agreement, noting the influential roles of Indonesia in ASEAN and Poland in Central Europe. Additionally, Poland’s forthcoming presidency of the EU in 2025 underscores its pivotal position.
“Poland is a strategic entry point for the development of Indonesian exports to Central and Eastern Europe,” Muzhar remarked. He further stated that the finalization of the MLA agreement significantly enhances the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and Poland.
This agreement not only strengthens legal cooperation but also contributes to the broader development of political and economic ties between the two nations.
