Ko Min Ko Oo, the chair of the Taungup Township Youth Network who was arrested on suspicion of ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF), was released on April 18 due to unsubstantiated charges, according to a lawyer involved in his defence.

“The court ordered Ko Min Ko Oo to be released under Section 258(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure as a misdemeanour,” said the attorney, Daw Theingi Maung.

Ko Min Ko Oo was taken from his home on December 14 and a lawsuit was subsequently filed against him by Police Captain Zaw Latt, head of the Taungup Township police station, under Section 50(j) of Myanmar’s Counter-Terrorism Law.

Following his release on Monday, Ko Min Ko Oo said he would continue to work for youth development and other social activities.

“I used to be a social worker and did not fund any anti-regime groups. I will continue to work on youth development projects like this,” he said.

Prior to his arrest late last year, Ko Min Ko Oo was described as a social worker who provided English and computer training to young people in Taungup Township, as well as being involved in environmental protection and fundraising for Covid-19 prevention and treatment efforts.

Myanmar’s military regime has charged at least 10 people from Arakan State’s Taungup, Thandwe and Mrauk-U townships for allegedly providing financial aid to the PDF, or otherwise having illegal ties to the anti-regime militia.

Author Ko Min Di Par from Mrauk-U Township, who was arrested on suspicion of financing the PDF and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour on February 25.

In addition, three women from Arakan State’s Thandwe Township were sentenced to 10 years in prison in late March on terrorism charges.