Aug 21, 2008 (DVB), Human rights activist U Myint Aye is to be charged with misappropriating relief funds despite the lack of evidence against him, according to a police officer who did not want to be named.

U Myint Aye, a prominent of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network, was arrested on 8 August on the orders of the interior ministry but authorities could not find any incriminating evidence against him, the police officer told DVB.

The interior ministry reportedly issued a directive instructing officials to charge U Myint Aye with misappropriating funds intended for victims of Cyclone Nargis.

At the time of U Myint Aye's arrest, authorities also seized receipts for donations to cyclone victims and a list of donors and the interior ministry ordered officials to interrogate the donors, the police officer said.

The officer said that investigators had found no evidence of wrongdoing, but the interior ministry decided to press ahead with the charges regardless.

Reporting by Moe Aye