Chin Women Sentenced to Nine Months for being Undocumented

CRC
June 4, 2009
Semenyih

Ms. Thlia Vang from Don Village, Thang Tlang Township was arrested by RELA on 23 December 2008 for being an undocumented refugee in Malaysia. She was detained in Kajang prison and charged as an “illegal” (Kaw Sawng) in Malaysia. She was taken to the Seminyih court three times but refused to plead guilty.

According to her relatives, she believed that UNHCR would come and meet her in prison because the only reason she came to Malaysia was to escape persecution in Burma. As she is not registered with UNHCR as a refugee, UNHCR is unable to help her. Since her arrest, her community members and relatives have informed UNHCR and requested their intervention. 4th June, 2009 was her last court day. 

As she could no longer bear the cruel and harsh treatment in the detention facility, she finally pled guilty in the Semenyih court. She was sentenced to serve nine months imprisonment for illegally being in Malaysia. As she has been detained for more than six months, she is required to serve another three months. Her body number is 5500.