“The judges come to the court when there is a hearing, but do not enter the courtroom. They sit in their chambers in the court.”



“Usually in Burmese courts and other countries’ courts, the lawyer for the prosecution and the defense lawyer argue their cases in front of a judge, but in Maungdaw law court, the judges are not sitting while the case is being argued.”

“U Khin Zaw, the township judge, and U Kyaw Than Sein, the assistant township judge, are sitting in their chambers where they meet with the defendants and give their judgments after getting money without sitting in the courtroom,” said a defendant who paid money to a judge for his release.

“U Hla Myint, the owner of Maha Computer Shop, is the collaborator of judges who organizes and encourages the defendants to meet the judges for their trial.”

The people of Maungdaw are now facing difficultly in arguing their cases within the legal system in Maungdaw, as the judges are not sitting in the courtroom, but are rather giving their judgments from their chambers after taking money from defendants.

“Where is the law and justice in Maungdaw?” asked a politician from Maungdaw.