Treason convicts transferred to remote prisons

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 22:20 Phanida

Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – Prison authorities in Rangoon’s Insein prison have transferred three people tried and sentenced for leaking confidential documents to remote jails across the country.

Sources close to Insein prison authorities said retired Major Win Naing Kyaw was transferred to Tharyawaddy prison in Pegu Division, Foreign Ministry clerk Thura Kyaw (a.k.a. Aung Aung) to Shan state and Byan Sein (a.k.a. Ahsi) to Mandalay prison on January 23rd.

On January 7th the Northern Rangoon District Court sentenced Win Naing Kyaw and Thura Kyaw to death under a wide-ranging security law including the Emergency Provision Act, while additionally handing down 20 and 15-year terms, respectively, on charges of violating the Electronic Act.

Byan Sein, a civilian, was sentenced to 15 years for offences under the Electronic Act.

“All three were taken from Insein prison on January 23rd at about 1 p.m. (local time). They were transferred to jails in remote areas on the same day,” the source told Mizzima.

The three were arrested, tried and sentenced for allegedly leaking pictures and documents relating to overseas trips by senior Burmese officials, including visits to China and North Korea.

While China is among Burma’s stronger diplomatic allies, North Korea is also said to be supplying military hardware to Burma’s generals.

Defense counsels Tun Aung, Myo Aung and Khin Maung Myint are reportedly preparing to file an appeal over the death sentences handed down to their clients.