JAKARTA: The Saudi Arabian government has extended the pardon process by another three months to four Indonesians facing the death penalty in the kingdom.

The decision of King Abdullah on the matter on Thursday was delivered via a diplomatic note by the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in Jakarta.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry in statement on Friday said the decision of the Saudi Arabian King was a positive response to a request by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono based on the good and cordial relations between the two countries.

The decision was issued ahead of a meeting between Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal scheduled for  May 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The extension of three months was given so that efforts to seek forgiveness from the victim’s families could continue to be carried out.

Under Saudi Arabian laws, an aggrieved family was one of the parties who could forgive the offenders and save them from the death penalty.

Since the middle of 2011 till now, of 62 Indonesian nationals given the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, 23 were freed from the punishment.


- Bernama

 

 

 

 

 

 

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