After Being Accused Of Being A Tourism Business Bringing 128 Indonesian Citizens To Thailand, Sriwani Sayuti Was Finally Returned

The Attorney General's Office of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Virgaliano Nahan (right), has an audience with related parties in an effort to resolve Indonesian citizens, Sriwani Sayuti, who was caught in legal problems in Bangkok, Thailand. BETWEEN THE AGO OF THE Republic of Indonesia

The Attorney General's Office of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, has repatriated an Indonesian citizen (WNI) named Sriwani Sayuti who was detained on a case suspected of conducting a tourism business in the country.

The Attorney General's Office of the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Virgaliano Nahan, explained that the case that happened to Sriwani began when the woman brought 128 Indonesian citizens who were employees of her company to vacation in Bangkok on 19 September 22, 2024.

Then, there was a suspicion from the local community that Sriwani was conducting a tourist business to bring tourists from Indonesia without involving local travel agents. The Indonesian-language Guide Association. Thailand also reported Sriwani to the Bangkok Tourist Police.

On September 22, 2024, Sriwani was arrested and immediately investigated by facilitating a translator provided by the Indonesian Language Guide Association.

"Sriwani was arrested for criminal proceedings on three alleged criminal acts, namely conducting a tourism business without a permit, acting as a tour guide without a permit, and as a foreigner who works without a permit," said Virgaliano in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, November 20.

Hearing the news of Sriwani's arrest, he said, his party also intervened by providing assistance to the person concerned until he received a suspension of detention by paying a guarantee to the Bangkok Court on September 24, 2024, and providing legal assistance.

He said that after his party studied the documents and the results of the interview with the Bangkok Prarangjawang Police investigators, it was found that there was a misunderstanding due to an error in the translator in the investigator's interview which resulted in Sriwani being considered to have committed a criminal act.

Armed with these findings, Virgaliano advised Sriwani and her lawyers to go to the local police and submit documentary evidence confirming that Sriwani is not doing the tourism business, not acting as a tour guide, and not taking financial advantage.

"However, it is difficult to communicate with the investigators, causing Sriwani to not be able to be re-interviewed, but the investigators attached documents that could relieve Sriwani," he said.

Furthermore, the Attorney General's Office Attache also accompanied Sriwani with an unfair treatment petition to the Thai Royal Bangkok Prosecutor's Office regarding inappropriate examinations.

"On November 11, 2024, when Sister Sriwani was obliged to report to the Bangkok Court accompanied by the AGO's Attache staff, the Bangkok Court said that the Thai Royal Prosecutor's Office did not prosecute, so that the person concerned was free of detention without any prosecution process," he said.

Finally, on Tuesday (19/11), Sriwani was able to return to set foot in the country.

Virgaliano said the effort to protect Indonesian citizens who had legal problems abroad, including efforts to free Sriwani, was a form of support from the Indonesian Attorney General's Office for the vision and mission of the Astacita program of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.