‘Blood Money’ Payment Spares Maid From Saudi Execution

An Indonesian maid convicted of murder in Saudi Arabia has been spared execution by beheading after the Indonesian government paid Rp 4.6 billion ($534,000) in “blood money."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene confirmed the news on Sunday, saying that the compensation, or diyat, to spare the life of Darsem has been paid by officials from the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh to the head of the court in the Saudi capital.

“The court immediately issued a verdict to repeal her qisas sentence,” Michael said, referring to the reprisal system under Shariah law. “Darsem is now released from the death sentence."

The funds were taken from the Foreign Ministry’s protection budget and transferred to the embassy ahead of the July 7 deadline.

Darsem, from Subang, West Java, was convicted in May 2009 and sentenced to death despite her plea that she had killed the victim in self-defense because he had attempted to rape her.

In January, the victim’s family forgave Darsem and agreed to spare her, but only if she could afford to pay the compensation.

Michael said the court would hand over Darsem’s case for review to the Riyadh local administration, which would decide whether Darsem should serve a prison term or be exonerated.

“If she has to serve more time in prison, there is a possibility to appeal for clemency from the king [King Abdullah],” Michael said.

Anis Hidayah from advocacy group Migrant Care said the diyat payment was “necessary” but should not set a precedent. “It is ironic that Darsem had to pay for the crime she unintentionally committed to defend herself from being raped,” Anis said.

Darsem’s sparing came a week after the beheading of another Indonesian maid, Royati binti Sapubi, prompted to government to announce a moratorium on Indonesian workers heading to Saudi Arabia from Aug. 1.

Source: Jakarta Globe, June 26, 2011

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