The Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court today released four Acehnese refugees who spent two years under remand for immigration-related offences.

However, they are not completely off the hook as it was a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

"You are all to be released without being freed from the charges," magistrate Aizatul Akmal Maharani told them.

The four have been released into the custody of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

It is learnt that arrangements are already underway for their resettlement to a third country.

The four, aged 25 to 50, were initially arrested and charged for drug related offences in early 2004.

Upon acquittal, they were arrested for not possessing valid documents and placed under remand at the Sungai Buloh prison.

Case postponed

Meanwhile, the 17 Burmese refugees charged with illegal assembly had their mention adjourned today for the sixth time.

All of them have claimed trial and are being held at the Sungai Buloh prison.

On May 24, their lawyers had made representation to the Attorney-General's office for the charges to be dropped.

Speaking on behalf of the deputy public prosecutor, lawyer R Rukumar today told the magistrate's court that the matter is still under consideration.

Magistrate Mohd Aimi Zaini Mohd Azhar fixed the next hearing at October 18.