Half of 10 prosecution witnesses examined so far in case against Kyaukphyu pair accused fundraising for AA

By DMG 21 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
20 August 2022, Kyaukphyu

Five prosecution witnesses including the plaintiff have been examined in the case of a man and woman in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code for allegedly raising funds for the Arakan Army (AA), according to family members.

U Than Hlaing, 41, and Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe, 56, from Ceditaung ward in Kyaukphyu, were taken into custody by security personnel from the military’s Light Infantry Battalion No. 34 on May 26.

There are a total of 10 prosecution witnesses in the case and three of them were reportedly examined during a court hearing on August 18. Two prosecution witnesses had already been examined at previous court proceedings. The next hearing has been scheduled for September 1, when the remaining prosecution witnesses are expected to be questioned.

“Three prosecution witnesses were questioned during the court hearing. Five prosecution witnesses including the plaintiff have already been examined so far,” said Ma Cho Cho Thein, the wife of U Than Hlaing.

Lieutenant Ye Thet Zaw from a Kyaukphyu-based military battalion filed a lawsuit against the pair at the Kyaukphyu Township Court on June 10.

“When the judge examined the prosecution witnesses, their testimony was not consistent with the case,” said U Mya Aung Zan, the husband of Daw Khin Ohn Ngwe.

“Some prosecution witnesses confessed that they didn’t know about the case. They [the two defendants] were charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code. Their [the prosecution witnesses’] testimony was not consistent with the case,” he told DMG.

The two defendants have been allowed to meet with their families, but U Mya Aung Zan said his wife is on medication for asthma and family members are worried that her health will deteriorate while she is in custody.

Ko Tin Myo Tun, a 24-year-old man from Sabeichaung village near Arakan State’s Sanae town who was detained by the Myanmar military on July 24, has similarly been charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code.

Military tensions have been running high in Arakan State following renewed clashes between junta troops and the Arakan Army in recent weeks.