A junta-appointed court sentenced Ko Wai Lin Aung, a former National League for Democracy (NLD) member of parliament (MP), to 26 years in prison with hard labour.

He was found guilty of high treason and terrorism at the Myawaddy Court on 28 November.

“He [Ko Wai Lin Aung] was sentenced to 26 years in prison at the Myawaddy Court on 28 November under Section 52 (a), 50 (a), and 50 (j) of the counter-terrorism law, as well as high treason under Section 122 [of Myanmar law]”, said a legal professional who had knowledge of the case.

Ko Wai Lin Aung was elected to represent Ayeyarwady’s Myaungmya Township at the Pyithu Hluttaw (national lower house of parliament) in 2020.

After the February 2021 coup he was forced to flee form his home and seek shelter in an area of Karen State controlled by the Karen National Union’s (KNU) Brigade 6.

But, on 14 December 2021, junta troops raided Lay Kay Kaw Myothit Town where Ko Wai Lin Aung was staying and arrested him, along with over 20 other political activists.

For over a month he and the other political activists were interrogated by junta troops at a camp on the outskirts of Myawaddy.

A person close to Ko Wai Lin Aung said: “On 14 December 2021, over 20 political activists were apprehended. 13 people, including Ko Wai Lin Aung, have already been sentenced. He was charged with anti-terrorism and treason offences and held for 11 months in Myawaddy Prison.”

Since the military coup the junta has been hunting down and arresting political activists and MPs. It has already sentenced other NLD MPs to prison, with some receiving sentences even longer than Ko Wai Lin Aung’s 26-year prison sentence.