15 Rohingyas jailed for attempt to flee country
Their sentence came fast because they travelled without any proof of identity or travel documents, says an officer
A court in Myanmar's Magway area sentenced 15 Rohingyas to two years in jail on Friday for attempting to flee the country without proper papers.
Minhla town authorities arrested 15 adults, who were sentenced under Section 6(3) of Myanmar's Immigration Act and sent to Thayet Prison promptly, reported RFA.
A six-year-old Rohingya child was also apprehended, who was later on sent to Magway Child Care Centre managed by the area's social welfare department.
"Their sentence came fast because they travelled without any proof of identity or travel documents," said Minhla township immigration officer Aung Pyi Soe who testified at the hearings.
"We didn't need much evidence to convict them," the officer added.
More than 200 Rohingya have been charged under the same act during the past three years.