A Chin State court on Wednesday reduced by one year the prison term of Ko Tin Tun Aung, a resident of Paletwa Township who had been sentenced to three years in prison for incitement.

Ko Tin Tun Aung filed an appeal with the Matupi District Court on May 13, seeking a reduction in his three-year sentence, which was handed down in April.

“The Paletwa Township Court had already sentenced him [Ko Tin Tun Aung] to three years in prison,” said U Win Aung, a lawyer involved in the defence. “We filed an appeal and his sentence was reduced by one year.”

Ko Min Aung, an elder brother of Ko Tin Tun Aung, said the family was happy that the sentence was reduced by one year.

Ko Tin Tun Aung was arrested on December 28 after telling the Arakan State-based media outlet Western News that a white flag had been seen flying over a hill where a military battalion was stationed in Paletwa Township. The 36-year-old healthcare worker was charged with incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code by Captain Tun Tun Naing from the Myanmar military on March 17.

Throughout his legal ordeal, Ko Tin Tun Aung and his family have maintained his innocence.

The Paletwa Township Court nonetheless sentenced Ko Tin Tun Aung to three years in prison with hard labour on April 5, and he is currently being held at Sittwe Prison.