Indonesia pays compensation fund to free citizen from death row in Saudi Arabia

Indonesia government agrees to pay the compensation fund amounting 21 billion rupiah (about 1.8 million U.S. dollars) asked by families of the slain employer to free Indonesian migrant worker Satinah from death penalty.

"The fund (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars), had already deposited in the court. Should they agree, the remaining (about 533,200 U.S. dollars) donated by businessmen would immediately be delivered," Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Politics, Security and Legal Affairs Djoko Suyanto said on Thursday in his office here.

He added that Maftuh Basyuni, the former Indonesian religious affairs minister who chairs the Indonesian team tasked to free Satinah, had made an appointment with lawyer of the slain employer regarding the commitment to pay the compensation fund.

Djoko added that the team would also meet with governor and the slain employer's family in Gassim province related to the compensation payment.

Satinah was scheduled for execution to her death on Thursday after it was delayed several times due to lobbies conducted by Indonesia to related authorities in Saudi Arabia. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had asked clemency regarding the case to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah but the king said that he could not meddle into the case as the court had handed over the rights to give clemency or not to the slain employer's family.

The 41 years old Satinah spared her life at least five times following delays on her execution. She was initially scheduled for the execution in August 2011.

Satinah was sentenced to death in 2011 after she confessed of killing her employer and stole his money.

In previous case, Indonesia paid 4.7 billion rupiah (about 412, 000 U.S. dollars) to free a migrant worker woman namely Darsem from death penalty in Saudi Arabia in 2011.

Indonesia imposes moratorium on the sending of workers for domestic helpers in Saudi Arabia as talks to improve the workers' protection and rights conducted between officials of the two countries were underway at the moment.

The moratorium was applied since August 2011 following rampant violations against Indonesian domestic helpers working in that country.