Former ANP youth leader's trial delayed by no-show prosecution witness

By Admin 30 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
30 October 2024, Yangon

The trial of Ko Gambari aka Khin Win Maung, a former youth leader of the Arakan National Party (ANP) facing terrorism charges, has been delayed by the extended absence of a prosecution witness.

The Mayangon District Court in Yangon will now reportedly question the no-show prosecution witness next month in the case against Ko Gambari, who has been charged under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

He was brought to the Mayangon District Court in Yangon on Tuesday, when the court was supposed to question the last prosecution witness, who failed to appear. The next hearing has been scheduled for November 6.

"Of seven prosecution witnesses, six have been questioned, and only one is left. He also failed to show up at the previous two court hearings," said a source.

Ko Gambari was arrested on the night of May 31 at a house in Yangon's Hlaing Township, where he was taking shelter after fleeing fighting between Myanmar's military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State. He was arrested for allegedly funding an unlawful organisation, according to sources.

He is currently being held at Insein Prison in Yangon.

A native of Pauktaw Township, Ko Gambari is a former leader of the youth wing of the ANP's central executive committee. He is also a social activist who has worked to help people displaced by the conflict in Arakan State.

If found guilty, he faces 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine under Section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

The regime arrested Arakanese singer Hsu Myat Htet on October 7 in Yangon, and similarly filed a terrorism charge against her.

"The regime targets young people, social activists and those with political affiliations. The regime is always suspicious of everyone," said a human rights activist.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 27,592 people have been arrested by the regime since the coup, of whom 21,048 people remain detained, and 9,481 of them have been given prison sentences.