Malaysia now a member of MH17 criminal probe team

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has finally been accepted as a full member of the MH17 criminal investigation team after having made repeated requests.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said he received a notification yesterday accepting Malaysia as a full and equal member of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

The notification was issued by the Dutch National Public Prosecutor’s Office in a letter dated Nov 28.

“As part of the continuing joint international criminal investigation process, I will be leaving for the Hague on Wednesday to attend the 3rd Eurojust Coordination Meeting on the criminal investigation,” Gani said in a statement.

He said the meeting scheduled for Thursday would also be attended by the Inspector-General of Police.

The Netherlands, Australia, Bel­gium and Ukraine are currently members of the JIT.

Prior to being accepted to the JIT, which is conducing the criminal probe into the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing-777 in eastern Ukraine on July 17, Malaysia was only a member of a separate technical investigation team.

Malaysian officials including Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had since called for the country to be included in the JIT.