Four Thais linked to Wang Kelian mass graves to face trial in Malaysia, says Saifuddin

PETALING JAYA: Four Thai citizens linked to the mass graves found in Wang Kelian, Perlis have been extradited to stand trial in a Malaysian court, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The Home Minister said that the four were extradited on Thursday (June 22).

“All four are now in Malaysia and will be brought before the Kangar Sessions Court in Perlis to be charged on Friday (June 23),” said Saifuddin.

He said that out of 10 individuals linked to the mass graves found in May 2015, these four have been brought before a court in Thailand for extradition proceedings.

“On March 30, 2023, the Thai Court of Appeals issued a detention order for the four to be extradited to Malaysia,” said Saifuddin in a statement on Thursday.

He added that the 10 were identified through a joint investigation by the authorities in both Malaysia and Thailand.

“The Malaysian government hopes that this collaboration can be continued to track down the other individuals involved and bring them to justice,” said Saifuddin.

In 2015, 139 graves were discovered in 28 abandoned migrant “prison camps” close to the Malaysia-Thailand border. Similar graves were also found in Thailand around the same time.

This was followed by a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in 2019, at which 48 witnesses testified.

The RCI, among other things, is aimed at examining all documents and evidence relating to the case of temporary camp plots and graves in Wang Kelian.