Seven people were sentenced to one year in prison for attacking international non- governmental organisation (INGO) offices in Sittwe, Arakan State, by the Sittwe Judicial Court on 25 February.
During the March 2014 attacks on the INGO offices 29 houses were totally destroyed. The owner of one of the destroyed INGO offices and the ward administrator sued 12 people for their involvement in the attack.
After the arrests 70-year-old Daw Aye Ma was released and U Mg Thein later died in prison whilst on remand waiting to go to trial.
Of the ten who went to trial seven were found guilty and three were found not guilty.
Mg Nyi Nyi Soe, one of the people convicted of the attack became sick whilst on remand and had to go to hospital three times according to a relative. Later he got dispensation to not serve time in prison so that he could receive treatment, which he is still receiving.
Mg Nyi Nyi Soe’s relative said: “When he went for a medical check with the doctor he said that he has jaundice. He is now taking medicine for it.”
Another prisoner said the rest of the people convicted for the attacks are happy because, though they received a one-year sentence they have nearly finished serving it.
Those who were convicted and received a one year sentence are: Daw Khin Cho Cho, Mg Saw Hlaing (aka) Mg Hla Chay, U Thein Maung, U Khin Win, Daw Khin Nu Chay, Mg Nyi Nyi Soe and Mg Hla Chay.
The three defendants found not guilty were: Daw Khin Mya Win, Daw Thein Khin Aye and U Maung Thein Wai.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
