{
  "id": 14199822,
  "title": "Convicted Myanmar citizens must serve sentences before repatriation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/convicted-myanmar-citizens-must-serve-sentences-before-repatriation",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T12:40:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1554690/convicted-myanmar-citizens-must-serve-sentences-repatriation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Myanmar citizens convicted of criminal offences in Malaysia must serve out their sentences before being allowed to return home, according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. The Myanmar government is prepared to accept its citizens held at Immigration detention depots in Malaysia, but these individuals must first undergo screening. If the screening reveals any legal violations in their records, Malaysia will handle the legal proceedings first, Saifuddin told reporters after a Madani Townhall programme with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Kedah students. The initial commitment agreed upon by both governments is to repatriate 5,000 Myanmar citizens. So far, 1,400 have been sent back by sea, leaving 3,600 more to be repatriated in subsequent stages. Myanmar expressed its readiness to accept an additional 4,000 citizens for repatriation on October 8, following a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing in Putrajaya.",
  "summary": "SUNGAI PETANI: Myanmar citizens convicted of criminal offences must complete their sentences in Malaysia before being repatriated, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hong Kong Free Press",
        "title": "China sentences to death Myanmar scam clan members",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/china-sentences-to-death-myanmar-scam-clan-members",
        "published": "2026-10-13T09:44:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "China sentences 3 people to death for running scam centers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/china-sentences-3-people-to-death-for-running-scam-centers",
        "published": "2026-10-13T10:53:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "China sentences 3 more Myanmar crime bosses to death in scam centre crackdown",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/china-sentences-3-more-myanmar-crime-bosses-to-death-in-scam-centre",
        "published": "2026-10-13T13:26:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}