The Australian government said on Monday it would refer claims from a Burmese refugee that he had committed war crimes in his former homeland, including carrying out 24 executions, to the federal police.

In a report carried by the Australian news agency AAP, Htoo Htoo Han said he had been an undercover military intelligence officer in Burma from 1987 to 1992.

He said had shot 24 people in the back of the head during the 1988 anti-government uprising and, as leader of a group which infiltrated the student movement to target and kill protesters, was also implicated in at least 100 further killings.

“I did it, I am a war criminal,” said the 44-year-old father of three, who is now an Australian citizen.

“For so long I have lived like an animal.

“Now I want to release what I carry inside for 20 years. I want to say sorry to the mothers and fathers of the people I killed.”