A verdict in the case of Ko Kyaw Zan Wai aka Ko Yin Hsot, a man from Mrauk-U, Arakan State, who was arrested on suspicion of having ties to the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) and National Unity Government (NUG), will be delivered within six months, the judge said during a court hearing on Tuesday.

The second hearing was held at the Mrauk-U District Court on Tuesday.

“At the court hearing today, the judge read out the name of the plaintiff and his rank. The judge said today was a coordination meeting,” said Ma Ei Kay Khaing, the wife of Ko Yin Hsot. “The plaintiff did not appear at the court. The judge asked Ko Yin Hsot if he would plead guilty or defend against the charge, and Ko Yin Hsot said he would defend. The judge did not ask anything further.

The next court hearing has been scheduled for October 4.

“Ko Yin Hsot said he will defend because he does not have any ties with any organisation, not just CRPH and the NUG. At the first court hearing, the judge told us we can hire a lawyer. And we are still looking for a lawyer,” Ma Ei Kay Khaing said.

Ko Yin Hsot was taken from his home in Mrauk-U’s Taungyat ward by junta soldiers on September 4. If found guilty of incitement under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code, he faces up to three years in prison.

Junta soldiers also detained two brothers at a shop in Mrauk-U’s Kan Hla Ward on Monday. A former reporter, Ko Poe Thiha, was also detained on September 20.