06/11/2020 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – On June 8, Burmese Canadian pastor David Lah appeared for the third time in court for violating the 2013 Natural Disaster Management Law (NDML), since he previously held gatherings in large groups despite the COVID-19 ban. His action led to his infection and several Christians in attendance at the time.
He was discharged from the hospital on May 7 and quarantined for almost one month in a hotel. Lah and the other members were prosecuted a week later after for violating the 2013 NDML. On May 20, the court ordered a 15-day remand (custody) at Insein Prison until his hearing on June 3. During the trial for all three men, Judge Moe Swe decided that the court did not need to grant bail for the lawsuits that carry prison sentences of three years and above.
According to Myanmar Times, on June 8, the 3rd hearing examined plaintiff U Ye Win, administrator of No 7 Ward of Mayangone Township, Yangon. The court learned that “people were gathered on the evening of April 7. David Lah had coronavirus symptoms since the evening of April 5, and he did not leave his house since then. The claim would be wrong if the date was April 7.”
Lah’s fourth hearing was on June 10, with the Crime Management Program. After that, Lah will appear three more times on the 16th, 18th, and 23rd. The pastor can face up to three years in prison if found guilty.
For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org.
