A reporter for BBC’s Burmese service has disputed allegations that he decked a police officer during a protest in Mandalay on March 27.
Mandalay-based Nay Myo Lin was arraigned at the Chanmyathazi court on Friday on charges of “voluntarily causing hurt to deter [a] public servant from his duty,” according to the Irrawaddy. He faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Lance Corporal Ba Maw filed the original complaint accusing 39-year-old Nay Myo Lin of punching him in the face during a protest in solidarity with students who were detained in Letpadan on March 10.
Nay Myo Lin, who was covering the demonstration, told the Irrawaddy that no such thing occurred.
“Students were protesting on motorbikes,” he said. “I arrived there during an altercation with the crowd. He just suddenly appeared in front of my motorbike. He startled me while I was taking photos, and I raised my hands, worrying that my bike might fall over. I don’t know where he got a bruise, but he has accused me of hitting him.”
After paying nearly $1,000, he was released on bail and is expected back in court on May 25.
Photo: Wikicommons
