“The Indonesian Consulate General in New York has been contacted by several Indonesian citizens in Philadelphia who informed them that an Indonesian citizen had died as a result of being stabbed,” said Silvia Meiryana Pakpahan, Consul for Protocol and Consular Affairs at the Indonesian Consulate General in New York, in a video statement received by VOA.
Silvia explained that both the victim and the alleged perpetrator lived in the city of Philadelphia. It is not yet clear what the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator is, as well as the chronology and motive for the stabbing that occurred. What is clear is that both arrived in the United States in August 2023, she added.
The Indonesian Consulate General in New York has contacted the victim's family in Indonesia, “to ensure that the victim receives proper treatment and burial,” said Silvia. She continued that the consulate has also contacted the local police to ensure that the alleged perpetrator receives legal assistance and is processed fairly.
“The Indonesian Consulate General in New York will try to ensure that his consular rights can be fulfilled,” added Silvia.
Earlier, several local media outlets reported a stabbing of a 55-year-old woman in south Philadelphia on Sunday. Police said the unidentified victim was stabbed to death at a home, while one person was taken in for questioning in connection with the incident.
The Indonesian Consulate General in New York confirmed that the information in the media report was related to a stabbing case involving two Indonesian citizens.
The city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania itself is home to around 4,000 Indonesian diaspora, one of the cities with the largest population of Indonesian citizens in the US, besides Los Angeles and New York. (r/m)
