Malaysian soldiers yesterday freed five Thais who had been held in custody after getting lost in woods and accidentally crossing the border.
home again: Five Thais, pictured in the front row with members of their families, were freed from Malaysian custody yesterday after being captured across the border.
The group — including a 15-year-old boy — had been foraging for food in the forest when they lost their way and inadvertently entered Kedah state, across the border from Than To district in Thailand’s Yala province.
Col Pramote Promin, spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, said the five were released from a Thai-Malaysian border checkpoint at Ban Din Samor, tambon Khirikate, Than To district.
All were unharmed and have already returned home.
“We have to thank the Malaysian soldiers for taking care of the five Thais while they were held in custody," Col Pramote said.
Supoj Rodduang, 40, Naret Supasit, 48, Somchai Kraidam, 48, Pongsathorn Onthai, 41, and Noppadol Pankaew, 15, set out from their homes in Than To district, Yala on Thursday.
They strayed from their course and were arrested on Friday.
Malaysian soldiers stationed at the Thai-Malaysia border crossing at Ban Din Samor also seized two rifles and 12 rounds of ammunition which were found in the group's possession.
The soldiers immediately informed their Thai counterparts that the group had been picked up and taken into custody.
Commander of the 4th Army Region, Lt Gen Walit Rojanapakdi, then assigned 5th Infantry Division commander Maj Gen Ruangsak Suwannakha to contact the Malaysian soldiers and seek the release of the five trespassers.
Col Pramote said the five had no intention of entering Malaysia and simply lost their way. He said they had been carrying the rifles to hunt for wild animals.