Over 120 prisoners from Myeik and Kawthaung districts pardoned

Over 120 prisoners from Myeik and Kawthaung districts pardoned
Published 25 July 2021
Zaw Moe Oo (Myeik)

More than 120 prisoners from Myein and Kawthaung districts in Tanintyayi Region have been released under a government pardon.

The State Administration Council issued an order (No 147/2021) on July 20 to withdraw ongoing proceedings and release prisoners or detainees.

Those released on July 23 from Taninthayi Region had been facing trails. A total of 124 were released—60 from Myeik District and 64 from Kawthaung District.

In Myeik District, 48 were from Myeik Township, one from Kyunsu Township, eight from Pulaw Township and three from Taninthayi Township.

Myeik District Administration Council Chairman U Nyan Zaw, Myeik District Police Chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Moe Thet and Myeik Prison warden U Saw Moe Shwe met the released prisoners before being transported to their native places.

Kyawthaung Prison also released 64 prisoners—52 males and 11 females.

The SAC released this order according to Section 419 of the Constitution to conduct effective measures against Covid-19 giving the reason that longer detentions make the courts unable to hear the defendants in line with the Covid-19 health rules and that some citizens facing prosecutions should be granted leniency.

On 1 February 2021 and before that date, all criminal cases prosecuted at respective courts with the following offences shall be dropped and the defendants be released, the order says.

Those should be released are applicable to such offences as (a) Penal Code Section 379, 380 and 379/ Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 380/ Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure; (b) Any cases except for Sections 42 and 43 of the Forest Law; (c) Any cases under the Gambling Law; (d) Any cases under the Excise Law; (e) Any cases under the Habitual Offenders Bond Act; (f) Any cases under Section 16 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law; (g) Any cases under Section 19 (a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law (regarding the drugs and psychotropic substances, under Section 26 of that law, the weight limit for the seizure is 10 grams and below or 3 grams, 200 grams and below for 100 grams, below 10 kg of speciosa and below 5 kg of dried speciosa or speciosa powder); (h) Any cases under Section 19 (e) of the Arms Act; (i) Any cases under the Suppression of Prostitution Act; (j) Any cases under the Police Act; (k) Any cases under the Television and Radio Law.