Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Some 26 Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia are facing execution, Vice Chairman of Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) Ramses D Arman said here on Thursday.

"Some 26 of a total of 44 Indonesian workers involved in criminal cases in Saudi Arabia have been sentenced to death and are waiting to be executed," Ramses said here on Thursday.

He said the government must act fast to save the 26 citizens. "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must directly handle this matter and try to lobby the Saudi Arabian government to prevent our citizens from being executed," Ramses said.

Among the 26 Indonesian workers now waiting to be executed in Saudi Arabia is Tuti Tursilawati (27 years old) from Cikeusik village, West Java. She left for Saudi Arabia on Sept 5, 2009 and was placed as a caregiver for her employer`s father.

She was arrested and sentenced to death in 2010 for murdering her employee`s father. There was no information about her motive, but according to the vice chairman of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI), Ramses D Arman, Tuti was raped by her employer`s father before she killed him.

Up till now, officials from the Indonesian consulate general in Jeddah were still trying to save Tuti from execution by lobbying g the victim`s family to forgive her.
(Uu.A051/HAJM/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011