Myanmar sentences Japanese filmmaker to 10 years in prison
Tokyo, Oct 6 (EFE).- A Myanmar military court has sentenced Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota to 10 years in prison, Japanese media reported Thursday.
The sentence – three years for incitement and seven years for electronic communications law violations – was handed down Wednesday by a court in Yangon, according to public broadcaster NHK, citing unnamed sources.
The specific details of the ruling are unknown, since the sentences were handed down behind closed doors and without the presence of Kubota’s lawyer, it added.
It is also not clear how many years he will have to serve, since there is also an ongoing case against him for violation of immigration laws. His next hearing for this case is next Wednesday, according to Kyodo news.
Kubota was arrested in July while recording protests against the military junta in the streets of Yangon.
The junta accused Kubota of entering the country on a tourist visa and contacting protesters.
Kubota, who has been detained in Insein prison, was sentenced by a court established inside the center.
The Feb. 1, 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into a political, economic, and social crisis, with clashes between junta forces and opponents, and increased repression.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 2,300 people have died due to the repression of the security forces, while 15,700 have been arbitrarily detained. EFE
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