President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were brought to trial through video conferencing on February 16, and the latter has been filed another charge under the natural disaster management law.
The virtual trial took place at Zabuthiri Township Court in Nay Pyi Taw.
“Today, the President and the State Counsellor were brought to trial. Normally, defendants are brought to the court for hearing. Now, we can see the case was brought through video conferencing. The police came here. The two from their detention areas met with the judge via video conferencing,” advocate Khin Maung Zaw.
He said he did know the State Counsellor had faced another charge under the natural disaster management law only when she was brought to trial for her first charge under the export and import law.
“The judge said that he told Daw Aung San Suu Kyi about the case. She was then asked if she would hire a lawyer or if she has had one. She said yes. She said she will accept the lawyer assigned by the central executive committee of her National League for Democracy,” Khin Maung Zaw said.
The next trial is set on March 1 and will go on in accord with the legal procedure, said Nan Aye Mya Thiri, information officer of Zabuthiri Township Court.
Khin Maung Zaw added that he could not know details as he has not been entrusted with power of attorney or met with the President and the State Counsellor.
The two were detained after the military took over State power on February 1.
Then, letters of remand for them went viral on Facebook.
According to the letters, Aung San Suu Kyi is facing a charge under the Export and Import Law while Win Myint is facing a charge under the Natural Disaster Management Law. Dakhina District Court in Nay Pyi Taw had given them 14 days of remand from February 1 to 15.
According to the remand letter spreading on Facebook on February 3, Aung San Suu Kyi was charged under Section 8 of the Export and Import Law. On February 1, a team led by a major from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army) in Nay Pyi Taw searched the house of the State Counsellor (No.A, Myanan Bontha Street, Zeya Theikdi Ward, Zabuthiri Township, and found six Icom walkie talkies from the security team, three Icom walkie talkies from the gate security team and one walkie talkie and a set of Jumper. Those communication devices were said to be illegally imported.
Meanwhile, Win Myint is charged under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law. The case is related to an incident on September 20, 2020. Led by District NLD chairman Min Thu, about 760 supporters went round in 220 cars and on 32 motorbikes in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area for election campaigning. On the way, the convoy stopped over the gate of the Presidential Housing and they were welcomed and waved by President Win Myint and his wife and daughter. Then, the charge has come now saying that he violated the Covid-19 prevention rules issued by the ministry of health and sports on September 9.
