Five ministers including the Rakhine State Prime Minister, U Nyi Pu, have been charged under Section-55 of the anti-corruption law. The lawyers for both sides will complete their final application on January 12, U Aye Kyaw Than, a lawyer representing U Nyi Pu, told Mizzima.

The five ministers were arraigned in special court at Sittwe Prison on December 29 and among the four cases of corruption, the remaining witnesses in Case No. 1 and Case 2 were examined.

"The prosecution has been examining the witnesses since the first court hearing. All examinations were done at today's hearing. We will hear the final statement at the next court hearing,” a lawyer, U Aye Kyaw Than said.

He said a verdict could be handed down at the next court hearing after the two sides heard their final arguments on January 12.

After the military coup, Rakhine State Prime Minister U Nyi Pu, State Minister for Planning and Economy U Kyaw Aye Thein, State Electricity Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan, Minister of Forestry and Mines U Kyaw Lwin and former Minister of Municipal U Min Aung have been arrested and charged under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law by the Military Council.

U Kyaw Aye Thein, U Aung Kyaw Zan, and in Prime Minister U Nyi Pu, have been charged with three counts of corruption under Section 55 and U Kyaw Lwin and U Min Aung are facing a case of each.

In addition, Rakhine State Prime Minister U Nyi Pu and former Minister of Municipal U Min Aung have been charged under Section 130 (a) of the Penal Code by the Military Council and will be summoned to court on January 5.

Rakhine Prime Minister U Nyi Pu was sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505 (b) of the Anti-Corruption Law and Former Minister of Municipal U Min Aung was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in

prison for the law relating to the Right of Peaceful Assembly and Peaceful Procession and the disaster management section. All five ministers are currently being detained in Sittwe Prison.