The former chief minister of the Mandalay Region, Dr Zaw Myint Maung, has been charged under the Defamation of the State Act and the Disaster Management Act, according to his lawyers.

Observers say the former Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung has been unfairly detained by Myanmar’s military council. He was charged on the trial date on July 9 under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 25/30 (a) of the Disaster Management Law.

Regarding Dr. Zaw Myint Maung's health condition, his lawyer said, "He is not only an elderly man but suffering from cancer, so his health is not very good.”

Dr Zaw Myint Maung, the former National League for Democracy Vice Chairman, has been in detention since the 1 February military coup and is reportedly in poor health.

Although the state-controlled media announced that former Chief Minister Dr Zaw Myint Maung and Ex-Minister U Zarni Aung have filed a complaint under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law at Police Station No. 1 in Aung Myay Thar San Township, Mandalay region on July 6, but the case has not yet reached the court, according to their lawyers. U Zarni Aung is the former Mandalay Region Minister of Electricity, Energy and Construction.