Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, expressed his condolences over the death of Zaini Misrin, an Indonesian migrant worker who was executed in Saudi Arabia for murder.

"Brother Zaini, you make me a whiny ambassador, for this afternoon when I was inaugurating PPLN (committee for overseas election) at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, I couldn`t resist the grief and I got all teary-eyed when I mentioned your name," wrote Ambassador Abegebriel on his Facebook account.

"I was only able to speak for three minutes and I stated that the Indonesian Embassy is in mourning," the ambassador said.

In his long social media post, Ambassador Abegebriel apologised for failing to bring Misrin home to his family, wife and two children.

Misrin, an Indonesian migrant worker from Bangkalan, Madura, East Java, was sentenced to death for murdering his employer, and was executed on Sunday at around 11.30 a.m. local time.

"Three hours after you had been summoned by Allah, I came to your grave, which was still moist and newly ushered by the cemetery caretaker who had just washed and buried your body," the ambassador said.

Despite having a good relationship with Saudi Arabia, the Indonesian Government was not notified before the execution of Misrin.

It is not unusual since the Saudi government is not obligated to notify foreign representatives of any execution.

Under Islamic Law in the Saudi Kingdom, no one can interfere nor alter the death sentence, including the King of Saudi Arabia. Only the victim`s family can stop the execution.

"Forgive me for failing to bring you forgiveness from your former employer`s heir whose heart has turned into stone. Forgive me for failing to convince the Mahkamah Ulya (Supreme Court) of Saudi to grant your Judicial Review," wrote Abegebriel.

Misrin arrived in Saudi in 1992 and had been working as a private driver. After returning to Indonesia, he went back to Saudi Arabia in 1996 to work with the same employer.

Misrin was arrested by Saudi Police in 2004 for allegedly murdering his employer, Abdullah bin Umar.

In November 2008, Misrin was sentenced to death by the Saudi court.

The Indonesian Government had arranged for Misrin`s family to visit him in Saudi thrice and meet the victim`s family to ask for a pardon, which they refused.

After the execution, Misrin`s body was buried in a cemetery in Makkah.

Government officials including representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited Misrin`s family, including his wife and two children in Bangkalan, Madura, to inform them of Misrin`s fate.

(T.A059/INE/B003)
(T.A059/A/KR-BSR/B003)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018