BANGKOK, Thailand – The Criminal Court on Monday (April 30th) acquitted five Thai Muslims of terrorist activities in Pattani province in late 2004, citing a lack of evidence.

The five were charged with involvement in insurgent attacks in Pattani in November and December 2004 with the aim of establishing an autonomous state in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla province, according to The Bangkok Post.

They were also charged in the murder of a police sergeant in Pattani's Muang district in late December 2004.

But the trial was dismissed because weak evidence failed to convince the court that the defendants were involved in the attacks, The Nation reported, adding that their initial confessions were obtained in interrogations "in conditions and at periods normal people could not tolerate."

Police failed to locate a weapon used in the murder of the sergeant or produce a witness who actually saw the shooting, the report said.

However, the court ordered the detention of the five pending appeal, The Nation said.