Contrary to what was earlier reported, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Thursday said that the man suspected by Saudi Arabian police of being liable for the death of a still-unidentified woman supposedly under his care in Riyadh is a locally-hired interpreter and not a welfare officer of the Philippine Embassy there.

OWWA Administrator Carmelita S. Dimzon made the correction as she announced that the OWWA has provided legal assistance to Bashir Ayob, 47, a native of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat.

Dimzon said in a statement that she instructed OWWA Welfare Officers Cesar Chavez and Nestor Burayag to engage the services of a lawyer to seek the release from detention of Ayob.

“OWWA has been following the case closely since Bashir was arrested and detained by police,” said Dimzon. “Our welfare officers have been coordinating with the police and have been visiting Bashir to check on his condition."

According to his wife, Bashir was arrested on June 12 over the death of an unidentified woman reported to be among distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh’s Bahay Kalinga.

The woman was brought to the Shemesy Hospital in Riyadh by another unidentified OFW on May 22 at 3:40 p.m; the OFW woman died on arrival.

Since Ayob is normally seen assisting sick OFWs to the hospital for check-up almost everyday, he became the main suspect, said his wife Janet.

On June 12, Ayob was invited by the Saudi police for questioning about the incident but was later cleared.

However, two days later Ayob was arrested by the Saudi police inside the deportation center while he was attending the repatriation formalities of Gerlie Balbin, an OFW. He is now detained at Al Dhera Detention Center of the Criminal Investigation department in Riyadh.