Dr. Hkalam Samson, former chairman of the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) was released from Myitkyna prison on April 17, it is reported.
He was sentenced to two years in prison under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Association Law, one year under Section 505(a) of defaming the state and three years under Section 52 (a) of the anti-terrorism law totalling six years on April 7, 2023 by Myitkyina prison special court.
He was arrested and detained at Mandalay Tada Oo Airport on the morning of December 5, 2022, and was sent to Myitkyina Prison on December 28.
He served as a secretary of the Kachin Baptist Convention for 8 years, as a Chairman for 4 years. He is currently serving as chair of Kachin National Consultative Assembly (WMR).
A senior military official from Northern Command Headquarters filed a lawsuit against him in Myitkyina court on August 26, 2019 for meeting with then U.S President Donlad Trump at the White House on July 18, 2019 for discussing religious persecution and armed conflicts in Myanmar. The charges were later dropped on September 9.
