RI citizen nabbed in Saudi Arabia

JAKARTA: An Indonesian man named Husaini Abdullah was arrested by the Saudi Arabian police on Nov. 14 in Jeddah for alleged money- laundering.

An official at the Indonesian consulate general in Jeddah, Taufiqur Rijal, said that Husaini was caught carrying US$157,000 in his luggage at the airport for departure to Indonesia, but he could not properly explain the source of the funds.

Taufiqur said that Husaini, who was on a haj pilgrimage, later informed the consulate that the money was received from some Indonesian friends working in Saudi Arabia to be brought back home to their families. The consulate is still negotiating with the Saudi Arabian police for Husaini's release.

Last month, an Indonesian citizen named Muhammad Akiq was also arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities for a similar offense, although he was later released after proving that the funds belonged to a travel firm organizing haj pilgrimage trips. -- Antara