Former President U Win Myint and former State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have reportedly been relocated from prison to a secure location.
U Win Myint was held in Taungoo prison, while Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was incarcerated in Nay Pyi Taw prison.
Investigations by Eleven Media Group indicate that the relocation was prompted by the prevailing extreme heat conditions.
Regarding their relocation, the State Administration Council’s information team has not issued a statement as of now. However, any updates from the SAC information team regarding this matter will be promptly shared.
Earlier this month, U Win Htein, a prominent member of the National League for Democracy party's leadership, serving a prison term in Obo prison in Mandalay, required treatment at Mandalay General Hospital for heatstroke.
Reportedly, the Union Supreme Court has accepted appeals against the prison sentences imposed on U Win Myint under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, Section 130 (a) of the Penal Code, and Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law.
Similarly, appeals against the prison sentences for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have reportedly been accepted by the Union Supreme Court. These sentences were imposed under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code, Section 67 of the Telecommunications Law, Section 8 of the Export/Import Law, Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law (in two cases), the Anti-Corruption Law (in five cases), and Section 130 (a) of the Penal Code.
The aforementioned cases encompass instances where U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were each sentenced to two years in prison under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code due to statements issued by the NLD Party Central Executive Committee on February 7 and February 13, 2021. Additionally, they involve an incident on September 20, 2020, in the Nay Pyi Taw council area, where U Min Thu, the chairman of the district party of the NLD, conducted a car campaign near the State Counsellor's residence in Zabuthiri Township. Consequently, U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were prosecuted under Section 25 of the Natural Disaster Management Law and sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly failing to adhere to COVID-19 containment orders while passing by the State Counsellor's residence.
Furthermore, in relation to the 2020 election, U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi faced charges of allegedly exerting improper influence on the Union Election Commission (UEC) under Section 130 (a) of the Penal Code. The case, in which they were sentenced to three years in prison with labor, is also included among the cases currently under preparation for appeals.
Additionally, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi faced prosecution for aiding and abetting under Section 3(1)(c)/9 of the Myanmar Government Secrets Act, resulting in a three-year prison sentence. Moreover, based on the testimony of U Phyo Min Thein, the former Chief Minister of Yangon Region, alleging receipt of gold and dollars, she was charged with corruption and sentenced to five years in prison. Furthermore, she was convicted of bribery and received a three-year prison sentence concerning projects of the Nay Pyi Taw Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, along with another three-year sentence related to the application and acquisition of land for the Naypyitaw Daw Khin Kyi Foundation headquarters.
According to recent investigations, U Win Myint and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi have been relocated from prison to another facility due to health concerns, amidst Myanmar's experience of an El Niño year characterized by extreme heat.
As of now, former President U Win Myint has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison across 8 cases, while former State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has received a cumulative sentence of 32 years in prison spanning 19 cases. However, both of their sentences were reduced to two years on December 6, 2021. Subsequently, on August 1, 2023, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's sentences were further reduced to 6 years, while U Win Myint's were shortened to four years.
