Sayardaw U Wirathu, a fugitive on the run ever since being charged with section 124 (a), had given himself up on the evening of November 2 to the Western District Police Force.
U San Min, deputy district adminstrator from the western Yangon district, opened a cased against U Wirathu under the penal code 124 (a) on May 28 for alleged "excit[ing] or attempt[ing] to excite disaffection towards the government," as a result of a public speech on May 5, 2019 in Yangon.
Sayardaw U Kaythara said that Sayardaw U Wirathu came back to the monastery on November 1 and went to the Thanganayaka in Kabaraye to explain that he will be giving himself the next day.
"We went along with what Sayar U Wirathu wanted. He is now defrocked but no ashamed. Since office was closed today, they say tomorrow the court will be at 9am next morning. And then he will be sent to prison," said Sayardaw U Kaythara.
The case against Sayardaw U Wirathu is still underway and the western district court had issued a warrant for him.
He is still being held there and Sayardaw U Wirathu had told the people that had come and gathered in his support to go back home.
Around 50 people had come to support Sayardaw U Wirathu and sizable police security detail has been deployed.
