More than 60 people found guilty in trafficking trial

BANGKOK, July 21 (TNA) -- More than 60 people, including a retired army general and former state officials, were found guilty on Wednesday in a major human trafficking trial for their involvement in trafficking and murdering Rohingya Muslims. The Criminal Court began handing down its verdict on the case that was sparked by the discovery of mass graves of refugees in jungle camps near the Thai-Malaysian border in 2015. Of 103 defendants, 40 of them are dismissed. But the court ordered 28 of the 40 to be detained pending an appeal. High-profile figures in this case are Lt. General Manas Kongpaen, Suwan Saengthong, a major seafood trader in Ranong province, Pajjuban Angchotephan a businessman from Lipe Island and Banjong Pongphon, the mayor of the Padang Besar Municipality. The former mayor of Padan Besar receives a jail sentence doubled to 78 years while Lt General Manas is sentenced 27-years sentence. The Criminal Court also ruled that 58 Rohingya migrants to be given compensation worth a total of Bt4.4 million. Following the discovery of the mass grave, human trafficking and modern-day slavery have been under international spotlight; thousands of Rohingyas were left stranded at sea and abandoned in jungle camps. (TNA)