- Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia (SBMI)
VIVAnews – Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michael Tene, said the Indonesian government had received a letter from the King of Saudi Arabia informing time extension for Indonesian workers in Saudi who are on the death row to apologize to the victims’ families.
“The King of Saudi Arabia gives time extension for the Indonesian citizens who are on the death row in that any lawyer assigned by the Indonesian Embassy can make approach to the victims’ families,” said Tene on Friday.
“Over a period of three months, the Indonesian government has the opportunity to seek forgiveness from the victims’ families,” he said,
However, Tene did not reveal the number of Indonesian workers on the death row who are given the extension.
In the meantime, Tuti Tursilawati, currently under death sentence in Saudi Arabia, is now brought to justice once again.
Tuti is an Indonesian worker from Majalengka who was accused of murdering her employer, Suud Malhaq Al Utibi. Tuti hit Suud with a piece of wood following sexual harassments she had received from the employer.
“Tuti’s case was reopened in court on April 29,” said Tene.
“However, during the trial, Tuti denied the prosecutor’s charges,” he explained.
The reopening of Tuti's case by Saudi Arabia’s court was a result of the efforts initiated by the Indonesian government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who called for the Saudi government to pay attention to the case.
Tuti Tursilawati received death sentence in May 2010.
