Poet Maung Saungkha has been rushed to Insein Hospital after a fellow prisoner attacked him after his latest hearing at Shwepyithar Court in Yangon this morning.
The 24-year-old, arrested last year for a verse in which he said he had the president’s portrait tattooed on his penis, was assaulted after he and his supporters recited a series of verses outside court to mark World Poetry Day.
During the readings, a Coconuts Yangon reporter witnessed a fellow prisoner becoming agitated and shouting at the group. Afterwards, at around 1pm, he allegedly asked police to take him to the toilet before beating Saungkha on the head with the chains on his handcuffs.
Shar Yamone, Maung Saungkha’s girlfriend, said he suffered dizziness and minor injuries.
