The BBC is reporting that a freelance television presenter who worked for their charity branch has been sentenced to three years hard labour in Myanmar.

Htet Htet Khine, the presenter of a programme produced by BBC Media Action for local audiences, was arrested in August 2021, the BBC reports.

Richard Lace, BBC Media Action's director of programmes said the move was alarming, and runs counter to basic principles of human rights and freedom of expression.

The junta authorities said Htet Htet Khine's reporting amounted to incitement and illegal association, charges her family said were unjust.

Her contact with family and access to legal representation has been limited since her arrest, BBC Media Action says.

Since the February 2021 coup, 12 media outlets have been forcibly shut and 142 journalists arrested.

Htet Htet Khine became well known in the country as the face of Khan Sar Kyi, described by the charity as a national television peace programme, and had travelled across the country showing the impact of internal conflicts.

The BBC notes that BBC Media action is an independent charity that operates separately from BBC News. It follows the corporation's editorial standards but is distinct from BBC News Burmese language news programmes.