Lili Sumarni bint Suhartono, Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) from Situbondo, East Java, finally returned to her homeland after being released from the death penalty and serving a prison sentence in Saudi Arabia. Lili was imprisoned on charges of performing witchcraft on her employer’s family, Sunday (11/22/2020).
Reporting from Detik.com, through his written statement on Saturday (11/21/2020), the Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh said Lili was returned to Jakarta by boarding a Saudi Airlines SV 816 plane from Riyadh on November 18, 2020 at 22:15 local time. . The next day, November 19, 2020 at 11.15 WIB arrived in Jakarta.
According to the chronology, 9 years ago, on January 12, 2012, the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh received information that Lili was threatened with the death penalty because she was accused of committing witchcraft to her employer’s family. On January 17, 2012, with the permission of the local authorities, the
Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh managed to meet with Lili in Shagra prison, as well as provide legal assistance to PMI, who is currently 37 years old.
On June 12, 2012, the Shagra Court began hearing Lili’s case and read out an indictment that carries the death penalty. Then On September 18, 2014, the Shagra Court judge sentenced Lili to death. Through lawyers Lili filed an appeal. The appeal court also accepted Lili’s defense and overturned the death sentence.
The appeals court then asked the Shagra Court to retrial the case. But the judge still sentenced Lili to death.
Finally, the Majlis A’la Lil-Qudhot (High Council of Judges) decided on a new line of judges who would try Lili’s case. After the trial ran for several trials, on December 6, 2018, the judge read out the verdict to reject the death penalty. However, Lili was still found guilty with a sentence of 8 years in prison and 800 lashes. Considering various things, Lili accepted the decision and stated that she would not appeal.
Lili’s detention period ended in January 2020. To facilitate the completion of administration and preparation for repatriation and to be closer to visiting. The Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh requested the transfer of Lili’s place of detention from Shagra Prison to Riyadh Prison. The request was granted.
Until finally the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh managed to complete administrative matters, tickets and PCR tests for Lili’s return.
Lili expressed her gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh for accompanying her all this time.
“I express my deepest gratitude to the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh for always accompanying me so that I can be returned to the country,” said Lili, quoted from coilnews, Wednesday (11/18/2020).
Lili was flown with 140 overstayed Indonesian citizens who were also repatriated to their homeland, namely 23 people from the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh shelter, and 117 others who were sent from the immigration/deportation detention center (Tarhil).
