Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Antara Bali) - A total of 636 Indonesian citizens have been arrested in Sabah, Malaysia, in various areas, including downtown of Kinabalu prison, Sandakan, Tawau, and women prisons.
"Of the arrested, 481 people faced criminal cases with more than 6 months of sentence, and 155 were charged with immigration laws related violations that attract prison term of less than 6 months," Consulate General of Indonesia (KJRI) in Kota Kinabalu said in a written statement received by Antara on Friday.
The KJRI of Kota Kinabalu confirmed that five Indonesians have been sentenced to death. They are currently awaiting a decision on their plea for clemency from head of the Malaysian State of Sabah, Juhar Mahiruddin.
Eight other Indonesians are still in litigation and facing the threat of death penalty.
All of these 13 Indonesians are involved in murder cases, that attracts provision of article 302 of the Malaysian domestic law (kanun keseksaan Malaysia).
Indonesian delegations, comprising the Consul General, the Chairman of the Task Force for Protection of Indonesian Citizens in Kinabalu, and officials of the Indonesian Citizens' Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had visited the Central Penitentiary Department of Sabah on Thursday.
Indonesian Consul-General to Kota Kinabalu Akhmad DH Irfan explained the government's programs to improve service and protection for Indonesian citizens in Sabah, particularly for those undergoing prison sentence or facing legal proceedings.
"As the representative of the Indonesian government, I would like to express our appreciation to the Central Penitentiary Department of Sabah for treating its Indonesian prisoners well," he stated.
He hoped that mental and skill coaching would also be the concerns of Malaysian prison management.
"It is important so that once the prisoners finish serving their sentence, they can rejoin the society and obey the laws applicable, wherever they may be," Irfan said.
Meanwhile, Sabah State Prison Steering Position Suria bin Idris welcomed the visit of the Indonesian government representatives and explained to them about the spiritual guidance and skill enhancement programs meant for the prisoners in Sabah.
In this regard, he allowed the consulate officials to directly observe and avail of an opportunity to meet the Indonesian prisoners. He also permitted mental coaching by inviting clerics from Indonesia.
Currently, there are about 500 Indonesians in Sabah, mostly working in oil palm fields. (WDY)
