Investigation is currently underway to uncover the cause of death of an Indonesian woman, whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The victim, who has been confirmed to be an Indonesian cleaner working in the country and identified by her initial A, reportedly did not show up for work on Friday. Her body was found later that evening, according to her sponsor.
“A female Indonesian citizen with initial A, aged 23 years old. The late A was born in Tangerang,” Judha Nugraha, director for citizen protection at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said today.
Judha also said that A had overstayed her residence permit in Saudi Arabia.
The local police in Mecca received a tip-off from a resident in the holy city, who found the suitcase containing A’s body lying on the ground near a ring road.
“The post mortem showed that there were no signs of violence on A’s body,” Judha said, adding that authorities will carry out an autopsy to determine her cause of death.
Eko Hartono, Indonesia’s Consul General in Jeddah, said A was sick for about three months and had been living at the home of two Indonesian workers, a married couple, in Mecca before her death.
“After her death, the [couple] who took her in [didn’t know what to do] and then stuffed her inside the suitcase and then dumped it on the side of the road,” Eko said.
The couple hails from Banten province, with the husband coming from its capital Serang while the wife is from Lebak regency. Eko said both are currently in police custody for questioning.
Indonesian missions in the country are working with the police in Mecca. They said they have contacted A’s family in her hometown while also providing the couple with legal assistance.
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