On April 7th, a court under the Military Council sentenced Reverend Bishop Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu, former Chairman of Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), to six years in prison.
A lawyer who represented him told Myitkyina News Journal that Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu was sentenced to a total of six years in prison, with a two-year sentence for violating Section 17(1), a one-year sentence for violating Section 505(A), and a three-year sentence for violating Section 52(A).
According to the lawyer, the defense team is currently planning to appeal the verdicts, and they are determined to do their best to fight for Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu's rights.
"We will file an appeal and do everything we can for him. We have already started working on the appeal process from today onwards”, he said.
Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu reassured those who are concerned about his well-being, stating that he is doing fine. He also requested their support and prayers for him during this difficult time.
“The Reverend said that he is doing well and requested the support of others through theirprayers”, the lawyer added.
One of the family members confirmed to Myitkyina News Journal that Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu was sentenced to six years in prison, adding that they believed it to be God's will.
Major Thu Aung Zaw of the Military Council's Northern Command sued Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu, alleging that he violated Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Act and defamed the state under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code. Subsequently, on March 14th, he was charged under Article 52(A) of terrorism.
Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu faced multiple charges, including a violation of Article 17(1) for allegedly meeting with Kachin Independence Organization/Kachin Independence Army (KIO/KIA) Chairman General N'Ban La and Brigadier General Gun Maw in January of last year.
Furthermore, he was accused of spreading and sharing words that disrespect and defame the state during a youth conference, which led to his charges under Section 505(A) of the Penal Code.
Additionally, he faced a charge under Article 52(A) for allegedly meeting with Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG) Duwa Lashi La, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Doctor Tu Hkawng, and Deputy Minister of Education Daw Ja Htoi Pan.
Doctor Hkalam Sam Sonu was detained by the Military Council on December 5th of last year, while he was getting ready to depart from Tada-U International Airport in Mandalay to go for a medical check-up in Bangkok, Thailand.
After being apprehended, The Reverend was held in an interrogation center in Myitkyina for 24 days, where he was not granted permission to meet with anyone. It wasn't until December 28th that he was finally transferred to a prison.
