All 13 prosecution witnesses have been examined in the case of Ko Sein Chit and Ko Ye Naing Oo from Arakan State’s Thandwe Township, who have been charged for alleged ties to the anti-regime People’s Defence Force (PDF), according to their lawyer.

The last prosecution witness, Military Security Affairs Corporal Thura Win from Maubin Township, Ayeyarwady Region, was examined via video conferencing at Wednesday’s court hearing.

Lawyer Daw Theinhgi Maung said the head of Thandwe Myoma police station will also be examined during a March 3 court hearing at the request of the township legal officer.

“The township legal officer requested that the head of Thandwe Myoma police station needs to be examined as a witness,” she said.

The two sides will argue whether the case should be charged officially or not after the latest addition to the witness roster is examined.

Captain Nay Zaw Htet from Ngapali-based Battalion 55 opened the cases against Ko Sein Chit and Ko Ye Naing Oo under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law, after they were arrested on October 9, 2021, and accused of having ties to the PDF.

The military regime has charged at least nine people from Arakan State for allegedly providing financial aid to the PDF, or otherwise having illegal ties to the PDF.