Six illegal entrants fined, sentenced to six months in prison

By Kyaw Myo Aung 22 Jul 2020

Kyaw Myo Aung | DMG
22 July, Maungdaw

Six Muslims from Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships who entered Arakan State illegally from Bangladesh were sentenced to six months in prison and fined K100,000 (US$69) by respective township courts on July 21.

Three people — two men and one woman — were fined K100,000 each for illegal entry into Arakan State under Section 13(5) of the Immigration Act by the Buthidaung Township Court, U Myo Tin Tun, a staff officer from the Department of Immigration, told DMG.

The Maungdaw Township Court meanwhile sentenced three entrants — one man and two women — to six months in prison under Section 13(5) of the Immigration Act, according to the Maungdaw District Department of Immigration.

Among about 80 illegal entrants who entered Maungdaw District from Bangladesh amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 44 Muslims were charged under the Immigration Act in an initial raft of prosecutions and 23 Muslims were sentenced to six months in prison. In a second batch, 18 Muslims were charged under the Immigration Act and sentenced to six months in prison.

Arrangements are being made to take action against the remaining 14 Muslims in accordance with the law, according to the Maungdaw District Department of Immigration.