Chaw Sandi Htun, the woman arrested for defamation after allegedly mocking the Burmese army’s new uniform on social media, appeared for a fifth court hearing on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Maubin woman was detained and charged last month under Article 500 of the Penal Code and 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law for posting a photo of Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing sporting the new uniform. She added a caption comparing the colour of the uniform to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s longyi.
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Her lawyer, Robert San Aung, told DVB that Maubin township court on Tuesday heard testimony by officer Aung Kyaw San of the police’s Criminal Investigation Department relating to the charges.
At previous hearings, Chaw Sandi Htun’s defence team raised a motion, calling for the charges to be dropped on the basis that the lawsuit was filed by an army officer on behalf of the commander-in-chief.
On Tuesday, Robert San Aung said, Maubin township court dismissed the defence motion.
Speaking to DVB, he complained that Burma’s judicial system under the current government was no better than that of the military junta of yesteryear.
“The judicial sector remains the same – we can only hope it changes under the next administration,” he said.
Read more about Chaw Sandi Htun’s arrest
