Family members of accused facing Counter-Terrorism charges experience frozen bank account

By Myat Win Kyaw 21 Sep 2019

Myat Win Kyaw | DMG
21 September, Yangon
 
The bank accounts of accused Arakanese youths, who have been facing charges under Counter Terrorism Laws in Yangon, have been frozen and their family members have faced difficulties, family members said.

They could not take out money from their bank account which was opened under the name of the accused, they said on 20 September while the accused, including the leader of the Arakan Association (Singapore), appeared in Yangon’s Western District court. The accused have been charged under section 50 (j) and 52 (a) of the Counter- Terrorism Law.

“My son has been detained and we couldn’t withdrawal cash from our bank account. How can we manage our daily lives now?” said mother of Ko Hein Zaw, one of the accused.

Ko Hein Zaw who lived in Singapore opened a joint bank account at the KBZ bank and he saved money every month. Previously, his wife could withdraw money from the account.

“There was no illegal money.  My son opened the account together with his wife. Now, the joint bank account is frozen. So, when can she take out money, till her husband’s case was settled?” the accused’s mother said.

Other family members of the accused, who opened bank account separately, can take out money.

During court hearing, the arrest warrant for Ko Than Tun Naing and Maung Soe Myint, who have been charged section 50(j) of Counter-Terrorism Law, was resubmitted because they could not be arrested, according to U Min Thant, deputy district judge and information officer of the Western District court.

The next court hearing will involve questioning eight accused who have been indicted under section 50(j) and 52 (a) of the Counter-Terrorism law and witnesses regarding the case, he said.

Three other people who have been charged under section 50(j) of the Counter-Terrorism law for connections with the accused Ko Aung Myo Win, who has been separately charged, are still at large and arrest warrants for them were resubmitted to the court, he added.

Ko Aung Mrat Kyaw, one of the eight accused, said that the judicial system in Myanmar has been manipulated.