The Insein Special Court sentenced U Ye Htut, who served as the Union Minister for Information under U Thein Sein's government, to 10-year prison term under Section 505 (a) and Section 124 (d) of the Penal Code on November 29, sources said.

An official from the Yangon Command filed a complaint against former Minister for Information U Ye Htut claiming that he was deliberately creating panic among the public on social networking sites, dissemination of false news, and inciting government employees to commit crimes, at the Ahlone Township police station, and he was initially arrested on October 28 under Section 505 (a).

Then, one month after his arrest, U Ye Htut was sentenced to three years in prison for Section 505 (a), and was sentenced to seven years in prison under Section 124 (d) of the additional charge, for a total of 10-year prison term.

Section 124 (d) is a newly amended section in the Penal Code during the reign of State Administration Council (SAC). It stated that if one obstructs or interferes in any way with the government employees from fulfilling their duties, he or she shall be imprisoned for up to seven years or fine or both punishments.

Before U Ye Htut was arrested and prosecuted, he wrote a response to a retired army officer, who wrote a comment on his social network page and he made publicize about the address, phone number and position duties of the retired army officer, which made many criticisms over U Ye Htut appeared in the military community.

It is reported that U Ye Htut, who served as Union Minister for Information during the administration of former President U Thein Sein, also served as a lieutenant colonel in the Tatmadaw.

On his Facebook account, U Ye Htut posted pictures of his travels, travel experience articles and the opinion articles in chapters and many people like them. Some supporters of the Tatmadaw have also criticized it as some of the information included in these articles is indirect criticisms of the Tatmadaw. In addition, U Ye Htut also published a book titled "Where to go.... the World and Hlinethayar" which he wrote in April of this year.