MALAYSIA supports and is satisfied with a Dutch court’s decision in finding three men accused of downing Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine in 2014 guilty of the crime, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. 

He said the decision of The Hague District Court set an important benchmark in the quest to find the truth and bring justice to all 298 victims, including 43 Malaysians, who perished in the tragedy, as well as to their families and next of kin. 

“Malaysia’s stance has always been that trials should be based on truth, justice and responsibility. In this context, Malaysia fully supports the decision made by the court.

“Malaysia is also satisfied with the reliable and transparent trial carried out via the Dutch legal system based on the rule of law in order to obtain long-awaited justice,” he told a press conference after attending a meet-and-greet with Bandar 32 residents in Bera today.

The Boeing 777 aircraft was downed by a BUK missile while flying over conflict-ridden eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. 

In its verdict yesterday, the Dutch court sentenced two Russians and a Ukrainian to life in prison after finding them guilty of causing the downing of flight MH17 and the deaths of all 298 people onboard. 

They are Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Ukrainian citizen Leonid Kharchenko. However, the court acquitted another Russian, Oleg Pulatov, of the same charges. 

Presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis, who read a summary of the judgement, said the court has no doubt whatsoever that MH17 was hit by a Russian-made BUK missile fired from a farm near Pervomaisk in eastern Ukraine. 

He also ordered the three men to pay more than €16 million (RM75.59 million) in compensation to relatives of the victims.

Ismail said Malaysia, on behalf of parties affected by the tragedy, expresses appreciation to the Joint Investigation Team comprising the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium and Ukraine, which had worked tirelessly in investigating the tragedy. 

He also expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and crew members of MH17.

“It is hoped that the court’s decision will give some relief and peace to the families of victims who perished in the tragedy,” he added. – Bernama, November 18, 2022.