Verdicts in the cases of more than 20 Lekka villagers in Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, who have been detained for nearly three years on suspicion of Arakan Army (AA) affiliation, were delayed this week for the 13th time, with family members demanding that a court ruling be handed down as soon as possible.

The court in Mrauk-U Township on February 8 again postponed an expected verdict in the case of the residents of Lekka village, according to family members.

The court delayed the verdict despite all prosecution and defence witnesses having been examined in the case.

“The court has not yet made a final verdict. If they are guilty, they should be imprisoned and if they are not guilty, they should be released,” Daw Ma Hla Nu, mother of detained Lekka villager Maung Thein Tun Aung, told DMG.

The court did not say why the Lekka villagers’ latest hearing was postponed without a verdict. The hearing has been rescheduled for February 22 and a final verdict is expected to be made then, family members said.

DMG contacted U Aung Sit Min, a lawyer involved in the case, seeking comment on the matter, but he could not be reached.

Family members of detained Lekka villagers have repeatedly travelled from Mrauk-U Township to Sittwe to attend court proceedings, and are upset that the February 8 hearing was postponed without a final verdict.

“I want to ask why the verdict was postponed. I would like to ask whether the verdict was postponed because they are not guilty,” said Daw Khaing Sein Hla, the wife of detained Lekka villager U Maung Than Htay.

Multiple postponements of a final verdict began some four months ago, said U Maung Nilar, the father of detained Lekka villager Khin Maung Win.

Daw Nyo Aye, chairwoman of the Rakhine Women’s Network, lamented the opportunities the Lekka villagers had missed out on while behind bars.

“Many young men and women are among those charged. After spending [nearly] three years in prison, they’ve lost their education,” she said.