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An Indonesian citizen Umrah pilgrim (WNI) was arrested and detained in Saudi Arabia on charges of harassing a female pilgrim from Lebanon. Photo/SINDOnews.com/Illustration
RIYADH – A congregation umrah Indonesian citizen (WNI) with the initials MS has been arrested by security forces in Makkah, Arab Saudi on charges of sexually assaulting female worshipers from Lebanon.
The Indonesian government, through the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Jeddah, protested against the Saudi Arabian government for not being given any information about the MS case.
MS (26), an Umrah pilgrim from Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi (Sulsel), was reported to have been detained in Medina.
“MS has gone through the trial process. The facts revealed in the trial, it was proven that he committed sexual harassment through the evidence of two eyewitnesses and direct confessions from MS,” said the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah in a written statement, Monday (23/1/2023).
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“The person concerned was then sentenced on December 20, 2022 in the form of a prison sentence of 2 years and a fine of 50,000 SAR,” continued the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah said that his party had not received any information from the Saudi Arabian authorities regarding the trial that MS was undergoing. Consular access to meet the new MS was granted by the Saudi authorities on January 2, 2023.
“Regarding this, the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah sent a protest note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia. The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah has also appointed a lawyer for further legal steps,” added the Consulate General.
Just to note, MS was accused of harassing a female worshiper from Lebanon while performing tawaf at the Grand Mosque.
However, the family denied the accusations because there was no hard evidence.
“Even when he was hit by the Arab police, he didn’t move because he really didn’t understand. At that time, the reporting woman was not there. Until the head of the trip went to the police station there, he said he had to be detained first, about 5 days later, he would be released,” said MS’s cousin. , Nirwana Tirsa through his Twitter account; @iniakuhelmpink.
He said that the verdict from the court in Saudi Arabia was erroneous and odd. This is because the woman who is referred to as the victim never appeared in court.
“Here is the obstacle, he (MS) was sentenced to 2 years in prison in a case of harassment, without any evidence,” continued Nirwana.
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