JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Human rights lawyers on Tuesday pressed South Africa to explain why a murder suspect from Botswana was illegally deported to his country, where he could be executed if convicted.

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has acknowledged that the man, Edwin Samotse, was handed to officials in neighboring Botswana in violation of South African rules that bar the extradition or deportation of people whose countries have the death penalty. It said it was investigating and that some officials were suspended.