Minbya youth accused of murder in Arakan State capital acquitted

27 Jan 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 January 2023, Sittwe

Maung Myo Chit Soe, who was arrested and charged with the murder of a young Sittwe woman, was released on Friday, according to family members and a lawyer involved.

“He was acquitted because he did not have anything to do with the murder. The court postponed the verdict against him [Maung Myo Chit Soe] two times and he was acquitted during the hearing for a third time,” said a lawyer with knowledge of the case who declined to be named.

U Hsan Kyaw Tun, chief of the No. 1 police station in Sittwe, filed the case against Maung Myo Chit Soe under Section 302 of the Penal Code at the Sittwe Township Court.

A total of 24 prosecution witnesses and seven defence witnesses were examined by the court and Maung Myo Chit Soe was found not guilty during Friday’s court hearing, and was acquitted.

“My son has been released. I could not go to the court hearing today because I felt sick. I am very happy that my son was released. I will go to Sittwe by boat tomorrow to see my son. Now my younger sister is going to Sittwe to take back my son,” said Daw Hla Thein Nwe, the mother of Maung Myo Chit Soe.

Ma Nwe Thandar Win, 18, was found dead on August 15, with two stab wounds and bruises on her face and chin, in a shop where she worked near the state government offices in the Arakan State capital.

Maung Myo Chit Soe, a 19-year-old resident of Kanhtaunggyi town who worked at a shop near the scene of the murder, was arrested on August 16 and interrogated following the murder of Ma Nwe Thandar Win. He was arrested and held in prison for about four months.

Ko Myo Myint Zaw, the manager of a shop who was arrested on suspicion of being the culprit in the murder of Ma Nwe Thandar Win in Sittwe, was reportedly charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code at a United League of Arakan court on September 22.