Families call for speedier trial in case of Kyaukphyu duo facing incitement charges

By Admin 05 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
5 July 2023, Kyaukphyu

Family members have called for a speedier trial in the case of a man and woman in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu arrested on suspicion of raising funds for the Arakan Army (AA) and facing incitement charges under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

All witnesses involved in the case against U Than Hlaing, 41, and Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe, 56, from Ceditaung Ward in the town of Kyaukphyu, have been examined. The Kyaukphyu District Court has postponed the verdict against the two accused three times.

A verdict for the accused was scheduled for July 4. But the court instead scheduled another hearing for July 18 due to the lack of permission from a superior, according to family members.

“All witnesses have been examined, but the judge has yet to deliver a final verdict. I don’t understand why the case is delayed. We want the court to continue trial proceedings as soon as possible,” said Ma Mya Hnin Ngwe Aung, the daughter of Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe.

Accused of raising funds for the Arakan Army, U Than Hlaing and Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe were taken into custody by security personnel from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 34 on May 26, 2022.

Lieutenant Ye Thet Zaw from a Kyaukphyu-based military battalion filed a lawsuit against the pair under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code at the township court. As the case has been going on for a long time, family members of the accused are facing various difficulties.

“We live in a rented home. My elder daughter goes to school this year. We are facing various livelihood hardships including financial difficulties. If the judge doesn’t put them in jail, release them as soon as possible. We are tired of the judge frequently postponing the final verdict,” said Daw Cho Cho Thein, the wife of U Than Hlaing.

Judges have not delivered and instead postponed verdicts several times in multiple cases of those charged with political counts in Arakan State, according to family members and lawyers.

A verdict for three accused, including social activist Ko Zaw Win aka Ludu Zaw Win from Kyauktaw, who were charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, has been postponed eight times, family members said.

According to a DMG tally, the regime detained around 50 people in the latest period of fighting, charging many of them under the Unlawful Associations Act, or with incitement under Section 505 of the Penal Code.