The Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) has handed down prison sentences and fines to five individuals, including the rector and vice-rector of Loikaw University, who served under the Junta.

"After careful examination of the charges, the court has sentenced five individuals, including the rector, to two years in prison and a fine of 900,000 MMK each under Article 17/1 of the Unlawful Association Act”, Khu Poe Ral, the State Supreme Judge of the Karenni State told Mizzima.

The Karenni State Police (KSP) have filed a case against five academic staff, including U Aung Khin Myint, the rector of Loikaw University, and Daw Thidar, the vice rector, for their close collaboration with the Junta.

State Supreme Judge Khu Poe Ral also confirmed that all five individuals sentenced to prison and fined will be incarcerated.

On November 11th, the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and joint resistance forces initiated an offensive with the objective of seizing Loikaw University, announcing on the 14th that they had successfully gained full control of the entire campus.

Amidst the fighting, the resistance forces helped the evacuation of 204 individuals, including non-CMD employees (those not involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement) and their families, who were trapped within the university campus.

Following the establishment of a dedicated investigation team by IEC concerning non-CDM individuals, the non-CDM staff and their family members underwent interrogation, with 193 of them signing personal commitments and being deported on November 28th, IEC announced on November 29th.

Nonetheless five individuals including the rector, were transferred to IEC's legal department, while three military family members directly associated with the Junta were referred to a military court for hearing in accordance with military laws.

The majority of the Junta's 425th Light Infantry Battalion and half of the 6th Light Infantry Battalion perished in the conflict for the seizure of Loikaw University. KNDF also disclosed the surrender of 32 Junta soldiers, led by Kaung Myat Ko, the platoon commander of the 6th Light Infantry Battalion.