18 OFWs held in Saudi for stealing

At least 18 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for allegedly stealing gold from their employer, the Saudi Arabian Mining Co., an embassy report said yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr. instructed the Philippine consulate general in Jeddah to coordinate with authorities on the investigation and ensure that their rights were protected as the cases of theft are investigated by Saudi authorities.

Consul General Pendosina Lomondot reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that the 18 OFWs are all employees of the Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

The Filipino workers were detained by Saudi police at Al-Mahd province after the police found tools and equipment used for melting gold, pieces of melted gold, and rocks and soil in plastic bags in some of the rooms occupied by the Filipino workers.

Lomondot said consulate representatives immediately spoke to the Al-Mahd police after learning of the arrests of the OFWs, and followed up with the ongoing investigation.

Col. Salamie Abdullah Al-Sanani, director of the Al-Mahd police station, informed the consulate representatives that the OFWs are still under investigation by the police and have been detained because of the materials that the police found in some of their rooms. — Pia Lee-Brago