All prosecution witnesses have been examined in a lawsuit against 13 suspects: 11 Shinletwa villagers in Chin State’s Paletwa Township and a couple from Kyauktaw Township.
They have been arrested on suspicion of affiliating with the Arakan Army and have been charged under section 17 (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Association Law for more than 10 months.
The case has 13 prosecution witnesses including three people who have been in prison in Pakokku, Magway Region, and all of them have been questioned on 27 November, defense lawyer U Tun Hla said.
On April, 21 Shinletwa villagers and the couple were arrested in Kyauktaw town, but 10 villagers were released later.
Major Naing Aung Phyo from Kyauktaw based Light Infantry Battalion 375 prosecuted them for contacting the AA and providing food for the AA.
Police Captain U Saw Lwin, an inspector from Kyauktaw township police station, did not appear in court for the 4 December hearing. If he did appear for questioning the case would finish faster, lawyer U Tun Hla expects.
As many as 503 people have been accused during the armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and the AA in Arakan State on suspicion of having ties to the AA, 10 of them were released, Thazin Legal Aid announced on 27 November.
