Plaintiff, prosecution witness in case of Taungup philanthropist appear before court

By DMG 06 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
6 October 2021, Taungup 

A plaintiff and prosecution witness in the case of Ko Aung Win Hlaing, chair of the Moe Pyinnyar Dana Philanthropic Association in Arakan State’s Taungup town who was charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, were sworn in at the Taungup Township Court on October 6, according to a lawyer involved in the case. 

During Wednesday’s hearing, Captain Kyaw Zin Oo of the 554th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) in Taungup and a prosecution witness were examined, said U Aung Kyi Naing, the lawyer. 

“A plaintiff and a prosecution witness were examined during the court hearing. The court hearing has been rescheduled for October 18,” he added. 

U Aung Kyi Naing said the statements of the plaintiff and prosecution witnesses could not be made without the defendant’s permission. There are seven prosecution witnesses in the case, including the plaintiff, according to the lawyer. 

Military personnel arrested Ko Aung Win Hlaing on June 5 near the Phone Nyo Taung security checkpoint on the Taungup-Thandwe road. He was sued under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act on suspicion of having ties to the Arakan Army (AA) on August 6. 

Ko Aung Win Hlaing’s wife, Daw Twetar Soe, said he had nothing to do with the Arakan Army ethnic armed group. 

“My husband told me that he was sorry because he was charged under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act without any links with the Arakan Army,” she said. 

The Moe Pyinnyar Dana Philanthropic Association was formed in April of this year and runs the Moe Pyinnyar Dana training school. 

The charitable school also offers other vocational learning, including computer training and English-language proficiency courses.