A Myanmar journalist, who has US citizenship and had been detained in Myanmar since March, was released on Monday after the junta withdrew charges against him.
Ko Nathan Maung, a US citizen who co-founded Kamayut Media, was detained in Yangon on March 9 when the security forces raided the firm’s office. Ko Hanthar Nyein, the other co-founder, was also detained and remains in custody.
They were charged under Article 505(a) of the colonial-era Penal Code for inciting dissent against the military regime and held in Yangon’s Insein Prison.
Ko Nathan Maung was released after the police officer who filed the charges withdrew the case during a court hearing inside Insein Prison on Monday, according to their lawyer Daw Tin Zaw Oo.
Ko Nathan Maung has reportedly been deported to the US on Tuesday.
Several journalists are being held in Insein Prison on incitement charges. Among them are former Irrawaddy editor Ma Tu Tu Thar and 7 Days and Myanmar Now staff.
Nearly 90 journalists, including foreigners, have been detained since the coup in February. Around 30, including Japanese journalist Yuki Kitazumi, BBC reporter Ko Aung Thura and AP photojournalist Ko Thein Zaw, have been released.
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