Sources from prison said the former Mandalay Region’s Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung felt ashamed of the justice system because on the day of litigation, he was charged with a new crime under the penal code despite being charged with an election-related statute originally.
The junta prosecuted Dr. Zaw Myint Maung under election related statutes at Aung Myay Thar Zan township court and Amara Pura township court of Mandalay Region and on January 19, the first hearing was carried out at the respective township courtrooms in the O Bo prison.
At the Amara Pura courtroom hearing, instead of charging with a separate election statute, he was charged under the penal code 170 (F).
According to a source in the prison, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said he was upset and ashamed of Myanmar’s justice system.
“Before, if someone wasn’t guilty of the charge, he or she was released. For example, if I sued someone for fraud and if it is not proven, the person must be freed. Now, it is said that fraud can’t be proven, but there must have been corruption, and new allegations will be used. It is like that with Dr. Zaw Myint Maung’s case. He was indicted with election related statutes. When the prosecution starts, he is being charged with penal code 170(F),” explained the source.
For the case hearing at the Aung Myay Thar Zan Township courtroom, the vice secretary of the Meikhtila District Union Election Commission gave a deposition.
One of the cases is now at the stage of presenting the charge and another is still at the stage of checking the evidence of the prosecution.
These two cases will be heard every Wednesday at the respective special courtrooms in the O Bo prison.
On January 14, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung finished his ten-day cancer medication course and he has been moved back to his cell from the prison hospital.
“Yesterday, his wife and daughter got the chance to visit him. His health is good. He received the last treatment on Friday and on Saturday, he got back to his cell from the prison hospital,” said a source close to his family.
