Myanmar court postpones verdict for Reuters journalists

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The verdict in Myanmar's prosecution of two Reuters reporters accused of possessing secret state information was postponed until Sept. 3 because the judge overseeing the case is in poor health, a court official said on Monday.

"The judge is in poor health, so I am here to announce that the verdict is postponed to the third," said Judge Khin Maung Maung, who attended a brief proceeding in the Yangon court, replacing Judge Ye Lwin who has overseen the case until now.

The two Yangon-based journalists, Wa Lone,32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, with Reuters News Agency, were arrested by Myanmar authorities for possessing important and secret government documents last December.

Detained journalists Wa Lone (C) and Kyaw Soe Oo arrive at Insein court in Yangon, Myanmar August 27, 2018.

“We are disappointed not to have received the judge’s decision today,” Reuters said in a statement.

Government spokesman Zaw Htay could not be immediately reached for comment on the postponement of the verdict.

The two are accused of breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison, by collecting documents relating to the country’s security forces.

They told the court during their trial that two police officials handed them papers at a north Yangon restaurant moments before other officers arrested them last December.

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Source(s): Reuters