Ms Siti Tarwiyah Slamet and Ms Susmiyati Abdul Fulan, two maids who were working for the same family, died after they were allegedly abused by their employer.

'We have received reports from the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh that Saudi authorities are pursuing a legal process against the suspects in the murder of the two Indonesian domestic helpers,' said Dr Hassan, as reported by the Antara news agency.

The minister added that Indonesia wants to be assured that the case will proceed based on the law in Saudi Arabia. The punishment for murder in the Middle Eastern country is death by beheading.

Ms Siti and Ms Susmiyati are two of four Indonesian citizens who were allegedly abused by their employers in Saudi Arabia. Two others, Ms Ruminih Surtim and Ms Tari Tarsim, are still hospitalised in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Riyadh province.

The Indonesian labour attache in Riyadh, Mr Sukamto Javaladi, told Antara that the four domestic helpers were tortured by their employers, who accused the maids of practising black magic.

'Black magic is merely an excuse of the employers. To verify the truth of their stories, we are still waiting for the results of the ongoing investigation,' Mr Sukamto said.