Myanmar businessman jailed for Facebook post
YANGON - Facebook user Zaw Myo Nyunt was sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour for defaming Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Mayangon Township Judge Sein Myint sentenced businessman Zaw Myo Nyunt on two charges under Section 66(D) of the electronic communications law and Section 505(B) of the penal code for posting a picture that showed Min Aung Hlaing’s portrait being trampled on. Section 505(B) makes it an offence to distribute material that upsets public tranquility.
He was arrested on October 6 last year.
“It’s unfair that I was punished like this. There should no longer be such prosecutions that oppress the people,” he said while leaving court.
Yangon police said a Facebook user named Zaw Myo Nyunt or Myo Myo posted the picture with the caption “Sorry, I stepped on this by accident,” on September 30 and the Yangon regional command investigated his internet use.
Two other Facebook users, Chaw Sandi Tun and Kum Ja Lee, had earlier been sentenced to six months in prison for similar defamatory posts on Facebook about the army chief.
Zaw Myo Nyunt was given a longer sentence as he was prosecuted under two charges.