Former Vice President U Henry Van Thio was questioned as a defence witness in court over the cases in which U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were charged under the Anti-Corruption Law over helicopter purchase and maintenance, according to a source related to the case.

U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi continued appearing in the special court set up in Nay Pyi Taw Prison on December 19.

At the trial, U Henry Van Thio was questioned as a defence witness over Case No.49 and 50 for helicopter purchase and maintenance out of Case Nos.46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 in which both were charged with corruption for causing a loss to the state funds as they abused their power in renting, buying and maintaining the helicopter without following the financial rules.

U Henry Van Thio served as Vice President-2 as well as chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee under the National League for Democracy government.

About five defence witnesses have been presented for the cases, and the remaining witnesses will be questioned at the next hearing.

U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were charged under the Anti-Corruption Law following the investigation that they abused their power in renting a helicopter and buying another in the period from 2019 to 2021 with the national disaster fund on the pretext of disaster prevention tasks under the National League for Democracy government and did not follow the financial regulations. They were accused that they granted permissions with the official letters. Such doings caused a loss to state funds and possessions.