Viral Indonesian Citizen Claims To Be Tortured By Employer, Indonesian Consulate General In Johor Bahru Facilitates Repatriation

JAKARTA - After a viral Indonesian citizen (WNI) admitted to being tortured by his employer in Malaysia, the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) Johor Bahru facilitated his repatriation.

Indonesian Consul General Johor Bahru Sigit Suryantoro Widiyanto on Saturday, July 22, said an Indonesian citizen from Medan, North Sumatra, named Dewi, worked as a housemaid and had been facilitated to return home before the video about her confession circulated.

In the video, Dewi is seen crying in the car and begging to be sent back to Indonesia after running away from her employer's house. Sigit said Dewi ran away from her employer's house because she was suspected of bringing some money.

He entered Malaysia on June 15, 2023, non-procedurally without a work visa and worked as a housemaid. Based on CCTV footage, Dewi was seen running away from her employer's house.

In the viral video, Dewi admitted to being tortured by her employer who detained her passport and cellphone. However, Konjen Sigit said Dewi was not a vulnerable group and there were also no signs of beatings.

The Indonesian Consulate General, quoted from ANTARA, has tried to extract information from Dewi, such as her employer's name and address, as well as the name of the broker of the workforce who brought her into Malaysia. However, no information was obtained from Dewi, except the desire to go home immediately.

A Travel Letter Like Passport (SPLP) was issued by the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Bahru on July 17 after approval from Malaysian Immigration. Dewi has also paid a fine of 100 ringgit (around Rp. 329,000) for overstaying for three days.

The local police only received a report on July 18, 2023 from Dewi's employer, who accused her of taking away 10,000 ringgit (around Rp32.98 million).