Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A cousin brother of 88 Generation Student Marki, held in prison, was sentenced to nine years in jail by Insein court for trying to smuggle out a letter from prison.

Zaw Naing Htwe, met his cousin brother Marki a.k.a. Kyaw Kyaw Htwe during a prison visit nine months ago, tried to smuggle out a letter given to him by his cousin from the prison in collusion with some prison staff.

However, he was arrested as the 'Military Affairs Security' (MAS) found out and was sentenced.

A source, close to the family members of Zaw Naing Htwe, said, he accepted a letter from Marki but was caught by the MAS and was arrested for trying to smuggle out the letter.

"The MAS caught the staff red handed along with the letter," and Zaw Naing Htwe was arrested, the source said. 

"Marki had been kept in a solitary confinement in a cell for a month. The MAS then used this prison staff as bait to arrest his younger cousin brother. He was arrested while this letter was being handed over to him by this prison staff," the source said.

It is still unknown of the contents of the letter that Marki had planned to send out through his cousin brother.

The three prison staff members who are co-defendants along with Zaw Naing Htwe were reportedly sentenced to three years in prison each.

Lawyer Pho Phyu, who is a defence lawyer for the case, said he would appeal against the verdict which is made under charges of sections 41(c) and 42 of the Anti-Corruption Act.

Marki was arrested along with many other 88 Gen Students on 21 August 2007, without providing any reason. He along with his colleagues were sentenced to 65 years of imprisonment on November 11.

He was then transferred to the Mergui (Myeik) prison in Tenassarim (Tanintharyi) Division of southern Burma from Rangoon's notorious Insein prison.