The Ann Township police chief said that 3 labourers were sentenced to 10 years and the rest to 6 years’ imprisonment by the court. They were punished under section no. 436 for arson; section no. 452 for trespassing; and section no. 427 for destroying property, the police chief added.

The convicted 17 labourers were arrested by the police on January 26th after they clashed with the Chinese workers at a factory in Taung Sauk Village, which is part of Ann Township. The quarrel started after the Chinese workers allegedly threw water on the Burmese labourers when they were sleeping downstairs.

Following a quarrel and clash, some Burmese labourers set fire to a building where Chinese workers were staying.

Lawyers for the Burmese labourers are now preparing to appeal at the Kyauk Pru District Court as they were not satisfied with the verdict.

U Myo Myat Hein, a lawyer for the convicted Burmese workers, told Narinjara that the township court verdict was unfair, so they would take their case to a higher court very soon.