Malaysia charges 4 Thai nationals with trafficking offenses relating to 2015 Wang Kelian case News
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Malaysia charges 4 Thai nationals with trafficking offenses relating to 2015 Wang Kelian case

Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn told state news on Friday that four Thai individuals have been extradited to Malaysia and were charged with trafficking and smuggling individuals from Myanmar. This case and prosecution relate to the May 2015 discovery of human trafficking camps and mass graves found in 2017 in Wang Kelian on the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Wang Kelian was discovered to be the site of mass graves of people believed to be Rohingyas (an ethnic group) and Bangladeshis who were victims of human trafficking found in the jungles near Wang Burma. By 2017, thousands of Rohingya migrated to Malaysia on a very dangerous journey by boat. Over 139 graves were found by the Malaysian police as well as 29 illegal detention camps.

Thailand and Malaysia carried out a joint investigation into the camps and convicted over 50 defendants, including nine government officials, over the deaths and trafficking. A news release from Malaysia’s Human Rights Commission and Fortify Rights included evidence from Wang Kelian and emphasized the need for “truth, justice and accountability.” A Royal Commission of Inquiry set up found that no Malaysian enforcement officials or citizens were involved in the human trafficking of the migrants. However, they did find the border patrols to be negligent and that they failed to follow standard operating procedures, which impacted the criminal investigation, which is still ongoing.

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