BUKIT MERTAJAM, Jan 14 ― Nine Myanmar nationals were charged today over the series of murders last year involving the deaths of their fellow countrymen.

The men, aged between 20 and 40 years, were jointly charged first at the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court and then again at the Sessions Court for several offences.

Bilah Md Ghulam, Mohamad Rafik, Habibullah, Mohd Rafi Shafie, Yassin, Soe Maung Maung, Ali, Hafiz Ahmad and Hussain Swaley were charged at the Magistrate's court with participating in an unlawful assembly and subsequently with the murder of two Myanmar nationals, Myo Aung and another unidentified man.

They allegedly committed the offence sometime between 8pm and 9.30pm on November 23 last year at a house in Kampung Pisang, Cherok Tokun in Bukit Mertajam.

They were charged under Section 149 of the Penal Code for unlawful assembly and Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder, which carries the death penalty upon conviction.

When asked if they understood the charges, which were read out in Bahasa Malaysia, all nine men nodded in agreement. No plea was recorded.

Magistrate Diannee Ningrad Nor Azahar fixed January 30 for mention pending the appointment of an interpreter.

Three of the accused ― Bilal, 27, Rafik, 28, and Hafiz, 28, ― were later taken to the Sessions Court where they were charged again under the same sections for participating in an illegal gathering and causing the death of another Myanmar national, 35-year-old Htoo Aung.

The trio were alleged to have committed the offence with another still suspect who is still at large at about 12.45am on October 15 last year in front of a house in Taman Impian Ria in Machang Bubok

The trio, and another accused, Ali, were then slapped with more similar charges. This time, the four men were accused of murdering two other Myanmar nationals at Kampung Manggis Estate, Machang Bubok sometime at 10pm on September 14 last year.

The four, along with another suspect still at large, had allegedly caused the death of Kyaw Tan Hla, 35 and Tun Yne Maung, 28.

All nine men were not represented by lawyers today.

Sessions Court judge M.Vijayalakshmi fixed January 30 for mention of the cases.