DHAKA: Malaysia said on Thursday that it believes 139 people are buried in graves at remote detention camps used by people-smugglers on the Thai border which were discovered on the weekend.

Deputy home affairs minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said “Based on the size of the graves, and after the area was cleared... we have a clearer indication — single grave, single person”.

He believed that there are 139 bodies since Malaysia has previously said it had discovered 139 grave sites, reports the Times of India.

The minister said initial investigations showed the bodies were wrapped in white cloth, in accordance with Muslim tradition, and were marked with wooden sticks.
   
Malaysian police said earlier this week that a total of 139 grave sites and 28 recently abandoned camps had been found along the northern border with Thailand, capable of housing hundreds of people.

Malaysian police believe they were used by human-traffickers and smugglers. Thai police in early May had uncovered similar camps on their side of the border.

BDST: 1524 HRS, MAY 28, 2015
BD/