Two Myanmar nationals have been detained in Malaysia on suspicion of murdering three Bangladeshi workers.

The accused have been identified as Ko Aung Thiha and Ko Aung Kyaw Htay.

They are reported to be members of the Malaysia-based Myanmar charity societies, Yadanasetka and San Mya Aung Myay, and were detained on May 5 in the southern Malaysian town of Johor Bahru.

Johor based San Mya Aung Myay philanthropy society’s chair Ko Aung Myo Oo, told The Myanmar Times that “Our two members have been accused of murder and for staying illegally in Malaysia by the police.

“No one is allowed to meet them to discuss the murder charges,” he said.

Ko Aung Thiha and Ko Aung Kyaw Htay have been living and working for the Meiban factory in Johor Bahru for the last eight years.

They were arrested on May 8 for the murder of three Bangladeshis. One of the dead is said to have died at the scene and the other two later from fatal injuries.

The victims were said to be found at a bush in Johor some 30 kilometers from their house.

Apart from the two Myanmar nationals, seven Bangladeshis have also been detained and accused of the murder, according to Malaysia-based Myanmar charity societies.

Ko Aung Myo Oo told The Myanmar Times that they have not met the two Myanmar nationals. He said they were reluctant to meet them as the police in Malaysia are arresting and detaining everyone who meets the accused.

“I have video and CCTV records that show the two were together with us between 8pm to 5am on the night of the murder,” said Ko Aung Myo Oo.

He also denied that the two Myanmar nationals were living illegally in Malaysia.

Ko Aung Myo Oo said that at the time the accused were arrested they were working at the factory and could not produce their passports as they did not have it on them.

The two Myanmar nationals and seven Bangladeshis are scheduled to be charged on May 13, on charges of murder and staying illegally in Malaysia.

A lawyer has been hired by the society with the help of the Migrant Workers’ Aid Organization Myanmar in Malaysia to defend the two Myanmar nationals.

U Chit Kaung, chair of Myanmar Migrant Workers’ Aid Organization, said, “They will be released soon. We have eyewitnesses, photos and video records to prove that the two were not at the crime scene.

“The police have no right to detain them if all the legal documents prove they are innocent,” he told The Myanmar Times.

When contacted by The Myanmar Times, a Myanmar embassy official in Malaysia declined to comment saying that he was not at liberty to answer on the matter.

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