The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Helps Return Indonesian Citizens Detained For Entering Malaysia Without A Permit

Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens (WNI) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha/ANTARA/Putu Indah Savitri

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped repatriate Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were detained at the Imigresen Detention Center (DTI) in the Sabah area for entering Malaysia without permission.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also facilitates assistance in the repatriation of bodies that died during the detention period in Sabah to their home areas in Ritaebang, West Solor, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Friday (21/7).

Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens (WNI) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha, reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 24, said the two Indonesian citizens were Ronal Kaha and his wife, Marta Keban, who were detained in an unlicensed foreign migrant (PATI) operation on February 3 in Sabah, Malaysia. The husband and wife then served their sentences in the Kepayan prison.

After serving a prison sentence, both of them were transferred to DTI Papar for the deportation process. While waiting for the deportation process, Ronal Kaha was sick and rushed to Queen Elizabeth II hospital on July 12 before being declared dead on July 14.

Following up on this condition, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu coordinated with relevant authorities in Sabah, Malaysia to seek the process of repatriating the bodies and their wives to their homeland.

On July 17, the Indonesian Consulate General in Kinabalu City also verified Marta's citizenship by coordinating with the Imigresen Sabah and facilitating the issuance of passport-like travel documents (SPLP) to repatriate the person concerned to Indonesia.

The bodies of Ronal Kaha and his wife were repatriated from Kinabalu City on July 19 and arrived at Frans Xavier Seda Maumere Airport on July 21 at 12.30 local time.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu has also handed over the two Indonesian citizens to the Directorate of Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate their repatriation to their home area in Ritaebang.

The bodies and his wife arrived in Ritaebang, West Solor, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara on July 21, 2023 at around 21.30 local time.