KANGAR: Four Thai nationals were charged at the Sessions Court here with alleged links to the mass graves found in Wang Kelian, Perlis, eight years ago.

Arun Kaeofainok, 30; Jepha Lapi-E, 51; Somphon A-dam, 51; and Amree Nesalaeh, 58; were charged separately under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007 before Sessions judge Musyiri Peet on Friday (June 23).

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All the accused nodded when the charges were read to them by the court interpreter, indicating that they understood.

However, no plea was recorded from all of the accused.

According to the charge sheet, Arun, Jepha and Somphon had separately committed human trafficking against Myanmar national Mohd Belal.

They are alleged to have committed the offence between February and April 2013 at Bukit Wang Burma, Wang Kelian, in Kaki Bukit, Padang Besar.

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The fourth accused, Amree, was charged with the human trafficking of another Myanmar national, Zedul Islam.

He is accused of committing the offence between August 2014 and March 10, 2015, at about 5.30am at Bukit Wang Burma, Wang Kelian in Padang Besar.

Deputy public prosecutors Muhammad Asyraf Md Kamal, VV Suloshini and Lee Jun Keong appeared for the prosecution while all the accused were not represented.

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In May 2015, 139 graves were discovered in 28 abandoned migrant “prison camps” close to the Malaysia-Thailand border in Perlis including similar graves on the Thai side.

On Thursday (June 22), Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said four Thai nationals had been extradited to stand trial in a Malaysian court over links to the mass graves found in Wang Kelian, Perlis.