Court set to deliver verdict in case against Thandwe social activists charged with terrorism

By DMG 06 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
6 May 2022, Thandwe 

A verdict in the case of two men from Arakan State’s Thandwe Township who have been accused of ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF) is expected at their next court hearing, according to a lawyer involved. 

Captain Nay Zaw Htet from Ngapali-based Battalion No. 55 opened the case against defendants Ko Sein Chit and Ko Ye Naing Oo under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, after they were arrested on October 9, 2021, and accused of having ties to the PDF. 

Lawyers for the prosecution and defence gave their final arguments during the most recent hearing and the next hearing has been scheduled for May 20, said Daw Theingi Maung, a lawyer representing the defendants. 

“The court is expected to deliver a final verdict in the case against the two men at the next hearing on May 20,” the lawyer confirmed. 

The two defendants are social workers in Thandwe Township, and their alleged links to anti-regime forces are nothing more than unfounded accusations, their families say. 

Myanmar’s military regime has charged at least 10 people from Arakan State’s Taungup, Thandwe and Mrauk-U townships for allegedly providing financial aid to the PDF, or otherwise having illegal ties to the PDF. 

Earlier this year, the author Ko Min Di Par from Mrauk-U Township, three women from Thandwe Township and a woman from Taungup were sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.