RI ministers denied access to worker

JAKARTA: The Minister for Manpower Jacob Nuwa Wea and State Minister for Womens Empowerment Sri Rejeki were denied access to an Indonesian worker, Sundarti Suprianto, 24, at Singapore's Changi Women's Penitentiary.

Claiming that they had been appointed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri to negotiate with the Singaporean authorities, Jacob and Sri Rejeki flew to the city state on Monday to meet Sundarti, who is currently facing a death sentence for murder.

The two ministers were unable to meet Sundarti due to strict prison regulations that allow only relatives, lawyers and embassy staff to visit prisoners, Antara reported on Monday.

Sundarti, who hails from Mangge village in Magetan Regency, East Java, was tried on charges of murdering her employer, Angie Ng, 34, and daughter Crystal Poh, 3, on May 28, 2002. --Antara