Agency: 19 RI nationals escape death sentence in Malaysia

As many as 19 Indonesians have escaped death sentence in Malaysia and been deported to the country, a government official says.

Chairman of the National Agency for the Protection and Placement of Migrant Workers, Mohammad Jumhur Hidayat, said Tuesday the Malaysian court of appeals ruled in favor of the Indonesian nationals, who otherwise would face execution.

“The Indonesian Embassy data reveals there are 177 Indonesian nationals facing capital punishment, 70 of them sentenced to death. The embassy is classifying details of the legal cases they are negotiating with,” Jumhur said as quoted by kompas.com.

He said the data was compiled by two of his subordinates currently in Malaysia to monitor Indonesian migrants on trial.

“The Malaysian court however has turned down appeals filed by two Indonesians, Tarmizi Yakup and Bustaman bin Buchori. We are helping them seek clemency from the king,” Jumhur said.

Previously a non-governmental organization reported that 345 Indonesian migrant workers were facing death sentence.