Taungup court set to convict former NLD lawmaker, fellow party member over anti-coup protest

By DMG 16 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
16 September 2021, Taungup 

Former National League for Democracy (NLD) lawmaker U Min Aung and fellow party member Ko Thant Zin Phyo, who were arrested in connection with an anti-coup protest earlier this year, are due to be sentenced on September 17, according to their lawyers. 

The two men were arrested for leading an anti-coup protest in Taungup town on February 9 and were subsequently sued under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. 

Prosecution witnesses in the case against the two men were examined at a court hearing on Thursday, and a final verdict has been set for September 17, said Daw Theingi Maung, a lawyer representing the defendants. 

“The prosecution witnesses in the case against U Min Aung and Ko Thant Zin Phyo were examined today. So, after all the witnesses have been examined, the appeal will be finalised tomorrow and a final verdict will be made in the evening,” the lawyer told DMG on Thursday. 

It has been more than seven months since the two were arrested and charged, and Thant Zin Phyo is receiving medical treatment due to ill health, according to his lawyer. 

U Min Aung, a former Arakan State minister for Municipal Affairs, was among five former ministers — including the former chief minister of Arakan State — who served under the previous NLD government and were charged with corruption following the February 1 military coup. 

The five former ministers charged under the Anti-Corruption Law appeared via video link for a court hearing in the state capital Sittwe on September 8, according to the lawyer. 

In addition to former Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and U Min Aung, ex-Minister for Electricity and Transport U Aung Kyaw Zan; ex-Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Mining U Kyaw Lwin; and ex-Minister of Planning and Finance U Kyaw Aye Thein have been charged under the Anti-Corruption Law. 

Of the five accused former ministers, U Nyi Pu and U Min Aung have been detained since February, following the military coup that toppled all 14 of Myanmar’s state and regional governments. U Nyi Pu is also facing charges under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, while U Min Aung was also charged under Section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession Law, and Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. 

U Nyi Pu, U Kyaw Aye Thein, U Aung Kyaw Zan and U Kyaw Lwin are currently being detained in Sittwe Prison, while U Min Aung is being held in military custody in Taungup Township, according to the lawyer.