Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed

Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed

MALAYSIA: Five Malaysian soldiers who were detained after crossing the border into neighboring Thailand during a joint border patrol are to be released soon, a report said on Sunday.

The four sergeants and a corporal had strayed some 300 to 500 meters into Thai territory while on a routine mission to pick up supplies last Thursday and are expected to be released later on Sunday, the New Straits Times said.

"The rest of their platoon were a safe distance behind Malaysia's border, but the five, despite having maps, a global positioning system and a compass, probably erred in their navigation due to the dense jungle terrain," Malaysian army chief Gen. Mohamad Azumi Mohamed was quoted as saying.

The five, reportedly clad in T-shirts and not wearing their military identification tags, were picked up by the Thai military after local villagers sighted them.

They are being held in the Ingkhayuttaborehan camp of the Fourth Army Command in Nongchik district, the report said.

Malaysia and Thailand are currently conducting a joint border patrol following a wave of violence in southern Thailand that has left some 60 people dead. --AFP