Pre-trial proceedings continued for ousted Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu at the Sittwe Township Court on March 17, with the defendant again appearing remotely via teleconference.
A final meeting on the case management plan for the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) leader’s trial was held on Wednesday, and a court hearing was scheduled for March 31, according to defence lawyer U Myo Myat Hein.
“According to the procedures, the court will hear the plaintiff [on March 31]. But that could change depending on political and other situations,” said U Myo Myat Hein.
U Nyi Pu was arrested along with other leaders of the democratically elected NLD government when Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup on February 1. The military regime released him after two days and placed him under house arrest, but again took him away on February 10 after he criticised the coup on social media the day prior.
U Kyaw Thein, the deputy administrator of Sittwe Township, filed a lawsuit against U Nyi Pu under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code on February 22, when the ousted former chief minister made his first virtual court appearance.
Section 505(b) imposes a sentence of up to two years in prison for anyone who “makes, publishes, or circulates any statement, rumor, or report with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public, whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility.”
U Nyi Pu is currently being held in military custody and is apparently in good health, said U Myo Myat Hein, who saw the ousted chief minister via video link.
Like other detained NLD members, U Nyi Pu has asked that he be allowed to stand trial in person rather than virtually.
“It will depend on his security conditions and the political situation. As a lawyer, I would say he should be allowed to see me so that he can get his legal rights in full,” said U Myo Myat Hein.
If convicted, U Nyi Pu faces up to two years in prison.
