PARLIAMENT The 12 police personnel nabbed following the discovery of mass graves in the Thai-Malaysian border in Wang Kelian, Perlis were released due to lack of evidence. 

Four foreign nationals were charged with human trafficking offences, of which a Bangladeshi pleaded guilty, two Myanmarese were found guilty, while the trial against a Thai national is pending, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. 

"The 12 police officers suspected involved in smuggling migrant workers were arrested under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) and the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca). 

"However, they have been released because there was insufficient evidence to convict them of the offence," Zahid said.

He said this in a written parliamentary reply to Steven Sim (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) who asked for the status of investigations into the harrowing human trafficking case, where the remains of more than two dozen people were discovered in shallow pits on the border in May 2015.

The minister said 139 "structures believed to be graves" were found at six tented locations built by "syndicates" in the jungle of the Thai-Malaysian border. 

"(These areas) are termed safe havens for traffickers to temporarily hold migrant workers while the Thai authorities conduct operations in nearby areas. 

"The migrants are then shifted to the permanent holding areas in Thailand when the situation is calmer," he said in the written reply. 

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said of the four foreigners who were charged, the Bangladeshi was sentenced to 10 years' jail after pleading guilty, while the Myanmarese were sentenced to three years' jail each.

The trial for the Thai national will resume on Dec 15 this year. 

Police also secured an arrest warrant for 11 other suspects. A red notice was also issued through Interpol, he said. 

In August last year, the Malaysian government submitted a notice to Thailand and Bangladesh to extradite the 10 Thai nationals and a Bangladeshi in relation to the case, he said. 

A total 106 sudden death reports were submitted to the deputy public prosecutor in Perlis on Oct 14, 2016, pending the Kangar Magistrate's Court's decision on whether an inquest will be held, he said.