22-6-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Four Thai citizens, believed to be connected to the mass graves discovered in Wang Kelian, Perlis, have been extradited to Malaysia and are set to face trial in a Malaysian court, according to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Home Minister.
Saifuddin confirmed that the extradition of the four individuals took place on Thursday (June 22).
“All four are now in Malaysia and will be presented before the Kangar Sessions Court in Perlis to face charges on Friday (June 23),” stated Saifuddin.
He revealed that out of the total of 10 individuals linked to the mass graves discovered in May 2015, these four had undergone extradition proceedings in a Thai court.
“On March 30, 2023, the Thai Court of Appeals issued a detention order for the four individuals to be extradited to Malaysia,” Saifuddin explained in a statement released on Thursday.
Furthermore, he mentioned that the identification of the 10 individuals was a result of a joint investigation conducted by authorities from Malaysia and Thailand.
“The Malaysian government hopes to continue this collaboration in order to track down the remaining individuals involved and bring them to justice,” expressed Saifuddin.
In 2015, a shocking discovery was made when 139 graves were unearthed in 28 abandoned migrant “prison camps” situated near the Malaysia-Thailand border. Similar graves were also found in Thailand during the same period.
Subsequently, a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) was established in 2019, during which 48 witnesses provided testimonies.
The primary objective of the RCI was to comprehensively examine all relevant documents and evidence pertaining to the case of temporary camp sites and graves in Wang Kelian.
