South Sulawesi Residents Who Escaped The Death Penalty Were Deported From Malaysia

PONTIANAK - Two Indonesian citizens from South Sulawesi (Sulsel) were successfully free from the death penalty in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The two residents of South Sulawesi were deported to Indonesia through the Entikong State Cross-border Post (PLBN), Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan (Kalbar).

"The Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching today has assisted and accompanied the return of two Indonesian citizens to Indonesia through the Entikong PLBN on behalf of Herna Mola and Soha Beta, residents from Gowa Regency, South Sulawesi who have been declared free from the death penalty by the Federal Court in Sarawak," said the Head of the Indonesian Consulate in Kuching. Yonny Tri Prayitno was quoted as saying by Antara, Wednesday, March 24.

Two residents of South Sulawesi, Herna Mola and Soha Beta were arrested on 29 November 2013 for the murder of a newborn. Then on November 24, 2016, the Miri High Court sentenced him to prison and the prosecution filed an appeal.

"On October 21, 2019 by the Court of Appeal, they were sentenced to death by hanging. After the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching filed an appeal, on February 24, 2021, by the Federal Court, both were found not guilty and released purely," said Yonny.

At the Entikong PLBN, both were handed over by the Consular Function of the Indonesian Consulate General in Kuching to representatives of UPT BP2MI Pontianak witnessed by the Indonesian Consul General Kuching, and BP2MI would then process their return to South Sulawesi after undergoing the COVID-19 prevention process at PLBN Entikong.

"We have submitted the two Indonesian citizens directly to the UPT BP2MI Pontianak representative at the Entikong PLBN," he also said.