Nov 15, 2008 (DVB)-Nine leading members of the 88 Generation Students, including Min Ko Naing, were sentenced to serve 65 years in prison on 11 November, according to their relatives.
A judge in Ma-ubin Prison passed the sentences and each defendant received 65 years’ imprisonment – 60 years for four charges each under section 39 (a) of the electronics law and five years for an offence under section 60 of the corrections department regulations.
The nine defendants were transferred to Ma-ubin Prison on 31 October after they were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment each for ‘contempt of court’ and today moved back to Insein prison as authorities are planning to transfer them to other prisons in a couple of days, according to their relatives.
One of them, Ko Aung Thu had to be hospitalized as soon as he arrived at Insein Prison.
88 Generation Student leaders were arrested in connection with protest walks against fuel oil price hikes and the Saffron Movement by monks last year.
A total of 21 charges have been filed against them and the 65-year prison sentences are only for five of these charges. They still do not know if they will face the remaining charges.
Reporting by Yee May Aung
