Han Lin Myint  

By The Irrawaddy

A police officer, who worked on police escorts for senior figures, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for joining the civil disobedience movement (CDM), a source told The Irrawaddy.

Lance Corporal Han Lin Myint from the counterterrorism unit joined the CDM in March last year and protested following the Feb. 1 coup. Around the end of May last year, he was detained in a raid in Thingangyun Township, Yangon, and charged with high treason.

He was sentenced to 20 years by the Yangon Eastern District Court in May this year. He was handed later three more years for incitement under Article 505(a) of the Penal Code by Thingangyun Township Court and another three years for violating police discipline.

A source said: “We are proud of him. Others are also making sacrifices. But it is too much to imprison him for high treason when he only joined the CDM. We will appeal.”

Relatives appealed to Yangon High Court on August 17 against the 20-year sentence but it was rejected.

Ko Han Lin Myint is being held in Insein Prison and is on medication for stomach problems. One of his ribs was broken during interrogation.

He served for around five years, including in the counterterrorism unit and escorted trips by vice-presidents and state-level officials and provided security when State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi visited the construction of the Yangon-Dala Bridge, according to a source.

He was part of the escort when then Vice-President U Myint Swe, who is now the junta’s acting president, visited Kachin State in late January 2021 just before the Feb. 1 coup. He and other personnel had to stay with the military in Kachin State due to the coup.

The civilian National Unity Government reported in April this year that 2,973 police officers have joined the CDM, including two majors.

Original Post: The Irrawaddy