The Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has given protection to three Indonesian illegal migrant workers who are believed to be witnesses of the alleged shooting of four Indonesian workers at a quarry in Selangor recently.

The embassy's first secretary, senior liaison officer Dwi Priyatno said the witnesses ( photo ) will be housed in the embassy until the case is settled.

However, he denied that the embassy is protecting illegal migrants, adding that if the police ensures the safety of the witnesses, the trio would be handed over without hesitation.

"We are not protecting 'orang jahat' (bad people).We are afraid they might run away from the site while the investigation is ongoing. It is also for their safety we decided to put them under our roof," he said at a press conference yesterday evening.

Dwi Priyatno, who is an Indonesian police officer, said he has noted the details of the case from the witnesses.

"We'll pass the details to the Malaysian police to help them in their investigation. The embassy does not have discretion to investigate. But we have the right to make sure the trial of our citizens is fair, " he added.

Conflicting claims

Last week's shooting incident in Bukit Lanjan, Damansara Damai, is shrouded in mystery.

A media report said the four were shot by a security guard who thought they were robbers. But an Indonesian-based migrant workers lobby group said the men were shot by a group claiming to be policemen.

Accompanied by Malaysian police personnel, Dwi ( photo ), third secretary Rizaldi Ishak, and labour attache Abdul Malik visited the site yesterday.

The Indonesian embassy is highly concerned over the case, which has also been reported in the Indonesian media.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya deputy police chief Abdul Rahman Ibrahim had said that both claims are being investigated.

The four, who sustained minor injuries in the incident, are in police custody.