484 Indonesians Overstaying in Saudi Arabia Arrive Home

Jakarta (Antara) - A total of 484 Indonesians who overstayed their visas in Saudi Arabia arrived at Soekarno-Hatta Airport by Garuda flight on Sunday after obtaining amnesty from the Saudi government. The Indonesians who consisted of 404 women and 80 children and infants arrived at the airport at 07.15 p.m. local time, five hours behind schedule. The delay occurred after the Garuda Boeing 747-400 plane which carried them had technical trouble at Jedda Airport. According to a report received by National Labor Placement and Protection Agency (BNP2TKI) chief Moh Jumhur Hidayat from Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Gatot Abdullah Mansyur and Foreign Affairs Ministry's Chief for Legal Aid and Protection of Indonesians Abroad Tatang Budhie Razak, the plane was supposed to leave Jedda at 00.15 a.m. on Sunday. But because the plane had to have its damaged wheel replaced the flight was delayed for five hours, the report said. Jumhur said the 484 were part of 7,885 Indonesians who had been put at shelter houses pending their repatriation. It took quite long time for the Saudi authorities to process applications from the Indonesians for exit permits, he said. He praised the Saudi government for granting amnesty to the Indonesians who had overstayed their visas in the country. Any migrant worker who was found without permit in Saudi Arabia could be sentenced to up to two years in jail and fined 300 million riyals, he said. "This (amnesty) is worthy of praise," Jumhur said when greeting the arrival of the 484 Indonesians. (*)