CNI News
26 July 2022
A Rakhine youth accused of his fingerprints being found at the murder scene of a Thai citizen woudl stand trial without bail as he could not afford it, labour in charge Ko Thein Tun, a worker advocate from the MWRN who has been helping the accused in the case, told the CNI.
The young Rakhine man, who was one of some 400 workers trying to illegally enter Thailand to go work in Malaysia, has been accused of his fingerprints being found on the saron around the neck of the victim.
The young man stood trial on 18 July and other two witnesses, the police officer who handles the case and he were questioned by the court on 19 he is likely to be vindicated innocent, according to Ko Thein Tun.
“It is true that Aung Ko Win’s fingerprints were found at the scene but the police have already admitted that fingerprints alone cannot prove the crime. So, the case is tilting in our favour. We would have had the bail for him if we could afford it. It cost a lot of money to try to release him on bail and we decided to let him stand trial in custody. It is possible to try to release him on bail but we couldn’t afford the money. So, we discussed with his lawyers to let him stand trial from the police trial. He is likely to win the case but we cannot say exactly as the court hasn’t made its decision, but he is likely to win.”
Daw Than Kyi May, the mother of the accused, said that she was glad that her son was likely to be acquitted from the case and she wanted her son to be released as early as possible.
“Aung Ko Win cannot be accused of the murder because he didn’t do it. I know only that. The most important thing is his release. I believe that my son would not commit the crime. And there are many people who know that he was not involved in the crime. Moreover, he has denied that he was involved in the crime. It was a relief for me but I won’t be happy as long as he is in my house. I am waiting for his return,” she said.
A lawyer has been defending the accused at cheap fees while legal advisors as well as authorities are offering assistance, he is determined to stand with the accused until he is acquitted, said Ko Thein Tun.
However, he admitted that they need some money to help the accused in the case.
Ko Thein Tun said, “ We are moving towards the positive end. We hope that he will be OK. Our community is trying as much as we can as there are so many Myanmar migrant workers here. They lend as much assistance as they can. On 18th and 19th July, I went to meet with Aung Ko Win at the court. He felt very confident. He said that he wanted to be released as he had told the court that he was not involved in the case.”
The body of the victim was found on 31st March and Thai authorities detained 400 Myanmar migrant workers who were trying to cross the border to Malaysia.
Currently, some workers were repatriated except the young man whose fingerprints were found in the scene and eye-witnesses but a Chin ethnic, one of the detainees died of ill health in the custody.
