Detained President U Win Myint was released from TaungNgu Prison today, April 17, marking Myanmar New Year’s Day.
He was granted amnesty under a Myanmar New Year pardon order issued today by military leader Min Aung Hlaing.
Following his release, the Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs (OCMSA/Sa Ya Pha) transported the President directly to his family under heavy security in a two-vehicle convoy.
During the release process, authorities read aloud the conditions to the President under Section 401(1) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which stipulates: “If another offense is committed, the remainder of the current sentence must be served.”
However, reports indicate that President U Win Myint categorically refused to sign the conditional release pledge stipulated under Section 401.
Despite his refusal to sign, prison officials unilaterally read the release conditions before compulsorily returning him to his family.
President U Win Myint had been detained since the military coup began on February 1, 2021. After being sentenced to prison on multiple charges, he was transferred from Naypyidaw Remand Prison to Toungoo Prison.
The military officially announced that over 4,000 inmates from prisons nationwide, including the President, were granted reduced sentences and released as part of today’s Myanmar New Year amnesty.
