Nine Myanmar men to be charged over killing of countrymen

Penang police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the nine men would be charged in accordance with Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

He said two other men would be charged under Section 6 (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 while one man will be freed as he was found not involved in the murder incident.

"They (nine men) will be charged in Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah and Seberang Perai Selatan in accordance with the location of the killings," he told reporters after the Penang Police Contingent's monthly assembly, today.

Murder cases involving the Myanmar people caught the limelight when victims were dismembered and their body parts dumped in several places in Nibong Tebal and Bukit Mertajam here.

Since early last year, 21 Myanmar murder cases were reported in Penang and initially, the bodies were wrapped in white cloth and left by the roadside.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahim said police would use all elements including working with other government agencies to trace the other four men believed to be members of the group that had been detained.

He said the four identified as Mohd Yahyar Khan Mohd Rafie, 42, a UNHCR card holder with the number 354-13C05627; Lokman and Gemuk in their 20s and another man in his 30s, are believed to have left Penang and hiding in various locations in the country.