November 9, 2025 | 09:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police in Tirana, Albania, arrested five Indonesian migrant workers. One of them, an Indonesian national, is accused of abandoning their newly born baby. The other four were arrested for failing to report the incident.
The Indonesian Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, has confirmed the arrests. Mekar A Pradipta, the First Secretary of Protocol and Consular Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia, stated that the embassy has sent a diplomatic note and official letters to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Albanian Police. "As of now, we have not received a response," Mekar said in a written message to Tempo on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yvonne Mewengkang, also made similar remarks. "While respecting the legal process in the local country (Albania), we are currently in the stage of conducting official communication," she said. As of Saturday, November 8, 2025, there has been no official notification from the Albanian government.
Several Indonesian diaspora in Tirana are concerned about the condition of the baby, who is currently in a hospital in the capital city of Albania. There were rumors that the newborn, who is still in critical condition, is experiencing a difficult time. "I hope the Indonesian Embassy in Sofia can quickly gain access so that the clarity of this case can be revealed," said one Indonesian resident in Tirana who declined to be named.
The five Indonesian nationals who are currently detained by the police in Tirana, Albania, are suspected of not having valid documents. According to an Indonesian resident in Tirana, the diaspora community does not know them. Typically, the diaspora in Albania is familiar with each other. "We don't know any of them. The Albanian diaspora, on the other hand, is familiar with each other. These five individuals, we don't know any of them," they said.
The Indonesian Embassy in Sofia is currently in intensive communication with the Indonesian diaspora and the prospective Honorary Consul of the Republic of Indonesia in Tirana. "As of now, the Indonesian nationals are still detained at the Tirana police station," Mekar said.
Yvonne Mewengkang promised to provide legal assistance once they receive official information from the Albanian Government. "The Indonesian Government always prioritizes the safety and protection of Indonesian nationals facing issues, while still respecting the legal process of the local country," said Yvonne.
Two months earlier, two Indonesian migrant workers were stranded in Tirana. The hotel where they were working closed due to the winter season. These two Indonesian migrant workers did not have the proper documentation to work. "We didn't report to the police first, so that we could get a refund from the agent," said an Indonesian national in Tirana, imitating the confession of the two migrant workers.
Mekar claims that the Indonesian Embassy repatriated the two migrant workers in Tirana. "The diaspora did initiate a joint effort, but in the form of pocket money," they said.
A year ago, Albania waived visas for Indonesian tourists. This situation has led unscrupulous labor agents to take advantage of Indonesian citizens who want to work abroad by engaging in fraudulent activities.
The arrest of five Indonesian nationals in Tirana was reported by the local newspaper, Telegrafi, on October 29, 2025. Previously, the local television station, A2, also reported a similar incident.
Krisna Diantha contributed to this article
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