It is now the 165th day that Than Htike Aung, a former editor of Mizzima was arrested by the military council.

Than Htike Aung and BBC journalist Aung Thura were arrested by military intelligence while attending the trial of NLD Patron Win Htein in Naypyidaw's Dakkhin District Court on March 19.

Aung Thura was released on March 22, but Than Htike Aung remains in custody after Thein Htay, deputy police chief of Zabuthiri township Police Station No. 1, filed a lawsuit under Section 505 (a).

When the plaintiff presented the case to the court, Than Htike Aung shared a protest letter on his Facebook page because of a military council announcement to revoke the licenses of five media outlets including Mizzima on March 8.

Ko Ko Lay, a local police corporal, was questioned as a witness at a July 1 court hearing in Zabuthiri township Court.

“When police corporal Ko Ko Lay was asked whether he knew Than Htike Aung's (Facebook) account, he replied he did not know. They also confiscated Than Htike Aung's two mobile phones. Than Htaik Aung's information was not found in his phones either. Currently, they cannot provide any evidence,” a person helping the defendant told Mizzima.

He was arraigned on July 8 and no further hearings have been held.

"The court will reopen in the first week of September," the person helping the defendant told Mizzima. However, it has not been officially announced for the date to resume the trial which has been suspended due to high levels of COVID-19 infection.