Three remains to be released on Friday

Three remains of the third batch of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH17 victims will be released from the Military Medical Centre in Hilversum on Friday.

A source told Bernama the remains will then be taken to Monuta Innemee funeral home in S-Gravenhage, 90km from the centre for the religious rituals.

It is understood the documentation process for the three remains were completed on Thursday.

More remains may also be released on Friday, but it depends on the approval of the authorities.

Armed Forces Chief, Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said in Putrajaya the ceremony to honour victims of the tragedy at KL International Airport (KLIA) on Sept 2 is expected to involve nine remains, including two foreigners.

On Aug 22, the first batch of 20 remains comprising 11 passengers and nine crew members were repatriated to Malaysia from Amsterdam on a special MAS flight.

Another remain arrived the next day (Saturday) while three remains were repatriated on Sunday.

Flight MH17 carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew members from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down in eastern Ukraine on July 17.

Forty-three Malaysians were among the 298 people on board.