TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nurkoyah (47) bint Marsan Dasan, an Indonesian migrant worker (TKI) from Rengasdengklok, Karawang, finally returned to Indonesia on Tuesday evening, July 3 after being declared free from the death penalty set by a Saudi court. Nurkoyah was in Saudi Arabia for 11 years, where she worked for three years and the rest was spent in jail awaiting the verdict over her fate.
A statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said that Nurkoyah was sentenced free by the Dammam City General Court from the death penalty for murder. Nurkoyah was accused of a ‘ghilah’ crime or premeditated murder of her employer’s child, Masyari bin Ahmad al-Busyail, a 3-month-old baby. Nurkoyah was accused of deliberately mixing certain drugs and rat poison into Masyari's milk bottle.
Nurkoyah's employer, Khalid Al-Busyail's family, filed a lawsuit of ‘qisas’ or death penalty against Nurkoyah. However, the Dammam District Court Judge rejected it by using the oath proof because the employer was unable to present the evidence to prove his claim. After a long legal process for 8 years, Nurkoyah finally sentenced free on April 3.
Nurkoyah especially thanked the President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, who paid special attention to all the TKI in Saudi Arabia who are facing legal problems. She also thanked the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh who had been assisting her during her death row.
Nurkoyah arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon, July 4, accompanied by the Young Consul of Riyadh Embassy, Makki Nahari. She will be escorted directly by her lawyer Mish'al Shareef to her hometown and meet her children. The Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, said that his office will always consistently present the state in assisting, nurturing and serving all Indonesian citizens and migrant workers in Saudi Arabia.
Suci Sekarwati
