Minister: staying permits in Saudi Arabia often abused

In 2007, the number of Indonesians already deported had reached 22,116.

The deportation cost was covered by the Saudi Arabian government including for the deportation of 600 Indonesians who were arrested in Aziziah, Mekkah, last Friday.

As to the newly arrested Indonesians, Segaf Al Jufri said they were being processed. Many of them had expired visas and overstayed in that country for nine years.

Some of them used small haj visa and then stayed for a long period in their bid to find a job.

The number of Indonesians arrested by the local government ahead of the haj pilgrimage continued to increase. It was reported that their number had reached more than over 800, half of them female, while the rest had small haj (umroh) visas and stayed there for a long period, he said.