Taungup Twsp twins’ terrorism case delayed by lack of prosecution witnesses

By DMG 09 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
9 October 2021, Taungup

The court case of twin brothers in Maei town, Taungup Township, who were arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law for alleged links to the Arakan Army (AA), has been delayed due to a lack of prosecution witnesses.

Maung Than Zaw Zaw and Maung Than Zaw Htay, 18-year-old twins from Maei, were arrested by the Myanmar military on suspicion of being AA supporters, but family members have denied the allegations.

“One of my younger brothers runs a barber shop and the other one is a carpenter. We rely on their incomes since our parents have passed away,” said Ma Khin Swe Moe, an older sister of the accused. “They were arrested on suspicion of being Arakan Army supporters but they have no ties to the ethnic armed group. I want them released as soon as possible.”

The brothers were detained at around 12 midnight on July 12, 2020, by a contingent of police officers and soldiers who also searched their home, according to the family.

In a statement on July 19, 2020, the Tatmadaw said that it had found two detonators used in bomb-making and two Vivo-branded dry-cell batteries in their home.

“When the soldiers and police searched the house, they already had the items [explosive devices]. We have never seen or heard of the explosives they are talking about,” Ma Khin Swe Moe said.

Capt. Aung Wai Yan Oo filed a lawsuit against the twins under Section 50(i) of the Counter-Terrorism Law. The two brothers have been on trial at the Thandwe District Court for more than a year.

“No charges have been filed as witnesses have not come to the court hearings. However, the judge could not say whether he would discuss the matter with law enforcement officials if the witnesses were not summoned again,” said Daw Myint Myint Than, a lawyer representing the defendants.

The two brothers are currently being held in Thandwe Prison and their next hearing has reportedly been rescheduled for October 13.