All 34 school students who were detained after crossing the Sungai Golok from Thailand into Malaysia via an illegal crossing to attend school have been released on police bail.
The students, aged between seven and 16, were released at about 11.30pm on Sunday after being held at the Pasir Mas District Police Headquarters.
A representative of one of the families said the children were brought to the station before parents were allowed to take them home after signing relevant police documents. The release was carried out in stages, and authorities have also informed parents that the minors will not be required to appear in court on Monday.
Earlier, it was reported that all 34 students were detained by the General Operations Force (PGA) at about 6.30am on Sunday after they were found crossing the river from Thailand into Rantau Panjang through an illegal route.
Briged Tenggara PGA Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the group comprised 12 girls and 22 boys, all Malaysian nationals residing in southern Thailand but attending school in Rantau Panjang.
Initial investigations found that the students had used an unauthorised crossing point along the river border to reach school, prompting their detention before they were later released on bail.
