Malaysia charges 4 Thais over mass graves and human trafficking camps that shocked the nation in 2015. These graves were believed to contain the remains of Rohingya Muslims and Bangladeshis held captive in camps located in a jungle area near the Malaysia-Thailand border.

The Malaysian Home Minister, Saifuddin Nasution, announced that the four individuals were among 10 Thai citizens whom the government had sought for extradition since 2017. Through collaboration with Thai authorities, the four suspects were apprehended and extradited to Malaysia to face charges.

The discovery of the abandoned jungle camps in Wang Kelian was initially announced by Malaysian police in May 2015. They subsequently unearthed 139 bodies from mass graves in the area. Thai police had also made a similar discovery earlier that same month, uncovering 36 bodies in shallow graves on the Thai side of the border.

Malaysia charges 4 Thais over mass graves and human trafficking camps that shocked the nation in 2015

These revelations exposed the existence of hidden networks operated by human smugglers. They held individuals captive while demanding ransoms from their families. The victims predominantly belonged to the persecuted Rohingya minority from Myanmar. Some were impoverished migrants from Bangladesh and all seeking better lives by fleeing their homelands.

The four accused men were taken to a lower court in Perlis, accompanied by armed police, where they faced charges of human trafficking. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years of imprisonment. The case has garnered significant attention, shocked the nation, and highlighted the extent of human trafficking networks in the region.

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