Pinoy detained in Jeddah for carrying pornographic pictures

A Filipino migrant worker in Saudi Arabia is currently detained and will soon be sent home after he was caught in possession of pornographic pictures.

The pictures, he said, were in the archives folder of an external hard drive that was confiscated from him by Saudi authorities last January 29 upon his arrival in Jeddah from a vacation in the Philippines.

“It was a stupid mistake,” said Andy (not his real name) in an interview. “I admit that, kaya lang hindi ko ini-expect na ganito ka worse ang mangyayari sa akin.”

Nudity and pornography are both illegal in Saudi Arabia.

According to Andy, who has been working in Saudi Arabia for 20 years, he thought his trouble was over when he paid the SR3,000 ($800) fine. He said he was told that he would not be detained if he would pay the fine.

But despite having paid the penalty, he was brought to a police station outside the airport where he was detained for six days because, according to the police, his employer did not fetch him.

He said he was released after the head of the police took pity on him.

But last Sunday, Andy was informed that he had to report to the police station and be detained. He said this prompted his employer to just send him home.

Andy said he sought assistance from the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah, but time ran out on him. He will spend 20 days in detention before his deportation.

Andy's employer had promised to give him his end of service benefits. — Ronaldo Concha/KBK, GMA News