Tuesday, March 8, 2011

In third hearing, Dunkley again denied bail

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Tuesday, 08 March 2011 20:39 Te Te

New Delhi (Mizzima) – At the third hearing of the Kamaryut Township Court in Rangoon, Burma, on Tuesday, the imprisoned Australian journalist Ross Dunkley was again denied bail.

Australian journalist Ross Dunkley on
Tuesday, March 8, at his third hearing
on charges of immigration violation and
criminal assault. The court denied him
bail and scheduled a fourth hearing for
March 17. (Photo: Mizzima)
A fourth hearing was scheduled for March 17, his attorney said.

The founder of the Myanmar Times and former CEO appeared in good condition. Dunkley was arrested February 10 and later charged with immigration violations and criminal assault. He was taken to Insein Prison the day after his arrest.

Attorneys for both sides made statements and presented written arguments on bail to the judge.

Observing the hearing were representatives of the Australian Embassy, the Myanmar Times current CEO, Dr. Tin Tun Oo, and some newspaper staff.

Dunkley has been charged under the Immigration Emergency Provisions Act section 13(1) for visa violations. In addition, he is charged with assaulting a Burmese woman, providing her with drugs and holding her against her will.

A staff member of the newspaper, Wei Lin, said that Dunkley’s living conditions inside the notorious Insein Prison were adquate and he made no complaints.

Media observers reported that Dunkley and the Myanmar Times’ new CEO were involved in a business dispute at the time of his arrest. Tin Tun Oo was named the new CEO four days after Dunkley’s arrest. Dunkley retains 49 percent ownership in the English-language newspaper.

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