Arrested for Facebook post, aid worker Patrick Khum Jaa Lee has been released

Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, a humanitarian worker who was arrested in connection with a Facebook post depicting someone stomping on an image of Myanmar’s commander-in-chief, has been let go after serving most of his six-month sentence.

Like Chaw Sandi Htun, who was released earlier this week, he was freed before the sentence technically expired.

Both Khum Jaa Lee and Chaw Sandi Htun were arrested in October for unrelated Facebook posts deemed defamatory to the military. They were both charged under Article 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act, the violation of choice that authorities have used to prosecute social media posts.

Photos showing a smiling Khum Jaa Lee shortly after his release circulated on social media this morning.

Subscribe to the WTF is Up in Southeast Asia + Hong Kong podcast to get our take on the top trending news and pop culture from the region every Thursday!



Reader Interactions

Leave A Reply


BECOME A COCO+ MEMBER

Support local news and join a community of like-minded
“Coconauts” across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong.

Join Now
Coconuts TV
Our latest and greatest original videos
Subscribe on