Row settled after Saudis beaten at Jakarta airport for taking pictures

Indonesian soldiers provide security at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, in this August 9, 2016 photo. (REUTERS)

JAKARTA: Three Saudis were thrashed upon their arrival at the Jakarta airport when one of them pushed a passport employee during an argument.
The Saudi Embassy in Indonesia said the deputy director general of passports in Indonesia has apologized to Saud Al-Khanini, charge d’affaires, over the incident.
Al-Khanini said the embassy immediately followed up on the incident and is currently in touch with the authorities concerned to ensure that the issue does not recur and that all Saudi citizens are safe while in Indonesia.
He said the citizens in question are in good health, having suffered only minor injuries, and are enjoying their holiday.
The embassy commented on news circulating on social media about the beating and extortion of the citizens, saying: “It tasked one of its employees to follow up closely on the case after receiving a call from the Saudia station manager at the airport about the incident.”
The embassy said: “A meeting was arranged with top officials at the airport and CCTV footage was received, which shows the citizen photographing the customs counters despite clear warnings not to do so, at which the passports director requested the person to erase the photo,” the embassy said.
“The citizen refused to hand over his phone and pushed the employee, resulting in the altercation.”
The embassy has warned citizens traveling to Indonesia about the necessity to follow local rules and regulations.
Social media reports claimed the trio had their passport procedures delayed upon arrival and that they were detained at the airport awaiting immediate transfer to the Kingdom.
However, an immigration officer told the Indonesian press that the Saudi passengers who arrived at 2 p.m. on Wednesday had been photographing the counter. The officer urged them not to take photos, and while trying to delete the photos, he asked them to enter a room to resolve the issue. “When they refused, the fight broke out in front of other travelers.”
The claim that the employee had taken money from the Saudis was also denied.