Trial of two Reuters reporters begins

January 23, 2018

The trial of two Reuters reporters charged under the Myanmar Government Secrets Act began yesterday morning in Yangon Region Northern District Court, at which the prosecution’s first of 25 witnesses, a high-ranking police officer, testified. Two reporters, Wa Lone, 31, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 27, were detained on 12 December after they had been invited to meet police officers over dinner in Yangon.

The reporters said they were arrested soon after being handed documents at a restaurant by two policemen they had not met before.

Police Lt-Col Yu Naing, Head 0f Yangon Northern district Police Force, told the court yesterday that authorisation was sought that evening from President U Htin Kyaw’s office to proceed with a case under the Official Secrets Act.

“The accused were arrested around 9 o’clock on the 12th, and the letter to ask permission from the president’s office was ready at 10 o’clock,” said defence lawyer Than Zaw Aung, referring to the court testimony of Police Lieutenant Colonel Yu Naing.

A case was opened against the two Reuters reporters by Police Lt-Col Yu Naing on 10 January in Northern District Court. An information officer for Yangon Region Northern District Court Deputy District Judge U Ye Lwin said an appeal for bail by the two defendants was also heard yesterday.

A ruling on the bail application for Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo will be announced at the court’s next hearing on 1 February, defence lawyer U Khin Maung Zaw said. —

Zaw Gyi

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar