Four Taungup men facing terrorism charges appear in court

By Aung Htein 21 Jul 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
21 July, Taungup

Four men including the chair of the Taungup Township Development Affairs Committee and the vice chair of the Arakan National Party in Taungup Township, who were charged under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, appeared before the township court on July 21.

Taungup town’s Kanpaing Ward administrator and a police officer from the Taungup police force were questioned as prosecution witnesses at Tuesday’s hearing, said U Tin Nyo, a lawyer representing the defendants.

During the hearing, the defendants testified that they had no links to the Arakan Army as the prosecution is alleging, the lawyer told DMG.

There are 13 prosecution witnesses in the case and two were questioned by the court at a previous hearing. Nine people have yet to testify, he added.

The vice chair of the Arakan National Party for Taungup Township, U Wai Thaung; the chair of the Taungup Township Development Affairs Committee, U Zeyar Kyaw; his younger brother U Sithu Kyaw Zan; and a member of the Taungup Township Development Affairs Committee, U San Ngwe, were charged under Sections 50(a) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

The court has set the next hearing date for August 4.

Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law is a sentencing provision for those found guilty of “acts of terrorism,” and stipulates a minimum punishment of three years in prison with a maximum 10 years behind bars.