Burmese American citizen, Kyaw Zaw Lwin (aka Ko Nyi Nyi Aung), was sentenced to five years imprisonment this morning. He has been sentenced to three years under section 468 of the Penal Code and to one year under Section 24 of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and one year under Section 6(3) of the Residents of Burma Registration Rule. A known political activist, he was arrested on 3 September 2009 by authorities at Rangoon’s international airport shortly after arriving on a flight from Bangkok. His trial took place in a special closed court session inside Insein Prison. The sentencing judge was U Nyo Tun. Ko Nyi Nyi Aung was represented by High Court Advocates Kyi Win and Nyan Win, the two lawyers who also represent 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Background
* Kyaw Zaw Lwin is a 40-year-old male who was born in Burma and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. During interrogation he was brutally tortured and during his detention went on hunger strike to protest over prisoners’ rights.
* Penal Code, Section 468 – Forgery: Forgery of purpose of cheating (3 years max.)
* Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, Section 24 – For possession of Burmese currency exceeding value of $US2000