Matupi District Court accepts appeal of Paletwa man sentenced to three years in prison for incitement

By DMG 13 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
13 May 2022, Paletwa, Chin State 

The Matupi District Court on May 13 accepted the appeal of Ko Tin Tun Aung, a man from Chin State’s Paletwa Township who was sentenced to three years in prison for incitement, according to family members. 

The case of Ko Tin Tun Aung, who was sentenced to three years in prison by the Paletwa Township Court, was appealed to the Matupi District Court on April 29. 

“I really want the case to be investigated properly. We feel that this case is more than a punishment. That’s why I want his sentence reduced,” U Min Aung, an elder brother of Ko Tin Tun Aung, told DMG. 

Ko Tin Tun Aung was arrested on December 28 after telling the Arakan State-based media outlet Western News that a white flag had been seen flying over a hill where a military battalion was stationed in Paletwa Township. Ko Tin Tun Aung was charged under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code by Captain Tun Tun Naing from the Myanmar military on March 17. 

The Paletwa Township Court sentenced Ko Tin Tun Aung to three years in prison with hard labour on April 5, and he was transferred to Sittwe Prison the following day. 

Ko Tin Tun Aung had not been seen since he was transferred to Sittwe Prison, family members said, adding that they were concerned about his health and wellbeing. 

“We are worried about his safety as we have not been allowed to see him since he was transferred to Sittwe Prison. Family members are worried about his livelihood and health,” U Min Aung told DMG. 

The military’s Major Phone Myat Kyaw has also opened a case against the chief editor and a reporter of Western News under Section 124(a) of the Penal Code for its reporting on the hoisting of the white flag.