Indonesian Citizens Threatened with Death Penalty in Malaysia
Monday, 18 February, 2008 | 17:23 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Tatang Razak, Indonesia's Ad Interim Business Representative concurrently Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia, has said that 328 Indonesian citizens are now threatened with the death penalty in Malaysia.

Most of them were involved in illegal drugs cases.
“The number has accumulated since seven years ago,” Tatang told Tempo, last Friday (15/2).

This data was revealed after the embassy along with the of Indonesian citizens protection and service work unit checked several prisons in Malaysia.

In 2007 alone, said Tatang, the number of case had reached 297.

Out of around 300 Indonesians, only a few were Indonesian workers.

According to Tatang, those who were involved in illegal drugs cases were mostly from Aceh.

He has already coordinated with the Aceh regional government to handle the problem.

“They've sent a team,” said Tatang.

The embassy has already asked Malaysia to prepare pro bono lawyers to represent the defendants so that the legal processes will proceed fairly.

In general the suspects have admitted to only being couriers and some were even only carrying for friends.

In such cases such as these, there were Indonesian citizens listed as having been caught in possession of 140 kilograms of marijuana.

“This is despite the fact that possession of 250 kilograms of marijuana already faces a death penalty,” said Tatang.

Especially in cases that involved Indonesian workers, he went on to say, other accusations were generally murder of employers.

“Due to salary and exploitation matters,” said Tang.
In certain cases, he continued, the legal aid given by the embassy had been successful.

“A few months ago Adi Asnawi was acquitted,” he cited.
As regards the solution target, Tatang could not give an exact answer.

“The legal process here is slow,” he said.

Some people had already been detained for between two and five years and the trial processes were still ongoing.

“But some were already acquitted after two to three appearances in court after being found not guilty due to lack of evidence.”

IQBAL MUHTAROM