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Person H received an order from the Padang Besar Chief of Police in Perlis State to conduct a Phase
II visit to Wang Burma hill. The visit was conducted on March 6, 2015 to confirm whether the site
was in fact a gravesite. The visit was conducted together with the Forensic Unit of Perlis State Police
Headquarters, and it was confirmed that it was a gravesite.
Classification of the Wang Kelian Case
The Commission recorded the statement of “Person G,” Senior Officer from Padang Besar Police
District in Perlis State on the classification of the Wang Kelian case. According to Person G, the
classification of the case was not under the jurisdiction of the District Police Chief but rather the
Investigating Officer himself. Nevertheless, the Investigating Officer should refer the case to the
Head of the Criminal Investigation Department for further advice and instructions. Person H.
Person H informed him that the detained individuals from the Wang Burma hill were charged under
Immigration Act 155—again, despite the authorities’ reasonable and immediate suspicion that the
site was used for human trafficking.
STATEMENT OF “DR. L,“ FORENSIC SPECIALIST
Post-Mortem of the Remains
In his statement to the Commission, “Dr. L,” said that he was informed by “Dr. N,” Head of Forensics,
that the Royal Malaysian Police found a site believed to be a gravesite on Wang Burma hill in Wang
Kelian, Perlis State.
According to Dr. L, the Forensic Department dug up the graves and exhumed remains systematically.
He further said that the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah State started to receive those remains
from May 25, 2015, and the hospital initiated a Disaster Victim Identification.237
Dr. L described that there were two phases involved in the post-mortem processing of the remains:
Phase I
In Phase I, which took place was from June 7 to July 1, 2015, police divided the gravesite on the Wang
Burma hill into eight areas. The Forensic team exhumed bodies in body bags from six out of the
eight gravesite areas. Three forensic teams were involved in the post-mortem examinations of the
exhumed remains. The process was conducted during regular office hours and according to the
rotation schedule. Three to four remains were examined in the post-mortem, according to Dr. L.
According to Dr. L, he and his team visited the scene on Wang Burma hill after the remains were
exhumed and transported from the hill on June 15, 2015. Two other teams from the General Hospital
of Kuala Lumpur and the Johor Hospital visited the scene on June 13 and 14, 2015.
During the visit, Dr. L observed two locations: the campsite and the gravesite. According to Dr. L,
the gravesite looked well-arranged and remains were roughly buried in the site according to the
qiblat direction.238 The distance between the campsite and the gravesite was approximately 100 to
200 meters (328 to 656 feet).
Dr. L informed the Commission that they exhumed approximately 132 remains from Wang Burma
hill. However, the hospital identified 152 remains after the post-mortem examinations, and an
Investigating Officer interviewed by the Commission in 2017 stated that 136 remains were exhumed,
237 The Disaster Victim Identification operation is an operation concerning disasters, and the operational teams rotate
in handling the situation. Post-mortem of all remains were conducted in the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital and involved
departments such as radiology, forensic pathology, odontology, and chemistry.
238 The direction of Mecca and Kaaba where Muslims turn their face while conducting prayers.