He was arrested by the Miri Police on May 2, 2017, on charge of murder of an Indonesian (claimed to be his wife), an offence carrying a maximum charge of death penalty in the countryPontianak, West Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Indonesian Consul General in Kuching Yonny Tri Prayitno confirmed the consulate offered legal and repatriation assistance to Indonesian Ical Samerin, 36, whose death penalty verdict was overturned in the Court of Appeal in Miri, Sarawak.
"He was arrested by the Miri Police on May 2, 2017, on charge of murder of an Indonesian (claimed to be his wife), an offence carrying a maximum charge of death penalty in the country," Consul Prayitno noted in his written statement received by ANTARA in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Wednesday.
Prayitno remarked that Samerin was earlier sentenced to death by hanging during a trial in the High Court in Miri on May 20, 2020. The Consulate General then appealed against the verdict in the Court of Appeal, with the hearing held on August 23, 2021.
"The Consulate General provides legal assistance to Samerin by appointing a lawyer for him. Through the lawyer's assistance and defence for him, the Appeal Court found him innocent and acquitted him of all charges," the consul stated.
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Following the successful appeal, Samerin was transferred to an immigration depot in Bekenu, Sarawak, pending deportation to Indonesia. The immigration officials brought Samerin to the Consulate General for immigration administration procedures on September 7, 2021. He was COVID-19 negative after being tested at the immigration depot.
Consul Prayitno stated that the consulate general had facilitated Samerin to communicate with his family in Bantaeng District, South Sulawesi. It was Samerin's first contact with his family after almost four years of imprisonment in Malaysia.
"Today, the consulate general repatriated him through the Entikong border crossing in Sanggau District, West Kalimantan. The repatriation process is smooth, and we have handed him over to the local Repatriation Task Force for quarantine before his departure to his home region," he revealed.
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Translator: Andilala, Slamet A, Nabil Ihsa
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
