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Alert

Court upholds journalist's 27-year prison term

(Mizzima/IFEX) - The Magway Division Court upheld on 28 April 2010 a lower court's
conviction of Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reporter Hla Hla Win and her 27-year prison term.

Hla Hla Win was sentenced in December 2009 to 20 years' imprisonment for violating the draconian Electronics Act and the Video Act, 505 (b) and an additional seven years for violation of the Import-Export Act, 5 (1). She is now serving her term at Myitkyina prison in Kachin State.

Oral arguments of lawyers from both sides on her appeal were heard on 5 April.

"The court upheld the decision of the Pakokku court, thus rejecting the appeal," Shwe Hla, Hla Hla Win's lawyer said.

Her lawyer said he would lodge an appeal with the Mandalay Division Supreme Court.

"My client did not commit any illegal act. So the decisions of the lower courts are unfair," he said.