Thai national linked to Wang Kelian human trafficking charged in court

Thai national linked to Wang Kelian human trafficking charged in court

The 34-year-old man was charged in Kangar under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, say police.

The skeletal remains of about 130 foreigners were found in 2015 at the camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian, Perlis. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Police have arrested a 34-year-old Thai national suspected of having been involved in a human trafficking syndicate linked to transit camps and mass graves found in Wang Kelian, Perlis, in 2015.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Abd Jalil Hassan said the man was arrested on March 8 under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) 2012 and Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act  2007.

“On April 5, the suspect was charged at the Kangar sessions court under Section 26A of the Atipsom Act 2007.

“If convicted, the offender faces a jail term of up to 15 years in prison or a fine, or both,” Jalil said in a statement.

He said the arrest showed police had never halted or hidden any progress on the investigation with regard to the discovery of the camps and mass graves in Wang Kelian seven years ago.

Police said they had found the skeletal remains of about 130 people at the camps and mass graves in 2015.

The victims were said to have come from Myanmar and Bangladesh in search of jobs.

In 2019, a royal commission of inquiry was held to examine evidence linked to the transit camps and mass graves. A total of 48 witnesses were called to testify, including former inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar.

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