The controversial Christian pastor David Lah and his colleague, Wai Tun, were sentenced to three months in prison on Thursday for defying a ban on gatherings aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
The Mayangone township court jailed the men under section 30 of the Natural Disaster Management Law following a two-month trial with testimony from 20 witnesses.
The event led to a drastic spike in Myanmar’s relatively low number of Covid-19 cases; at least 72 people tested positive for the virus after either attending the event or coming into contact with those who did.
The pastor had told his followers that good Christians would not get infected. “I can guarantee that if a person lives according to the Bible… they will not be infected with this disease,” he told a crowd.
The men organised a gathering at the Hebron Brethren Assembly Hall Church in April and live-streamed prayers and gospel songs from the event on social media.
Authorities also charged Kwe Wah and Rev. Ray Gandi – but the current status of their cases is unclear.
Journalists have been denied access to most of David Lah and Wai Tun’s hearings and officials have refused to share information about the four men’s cases.
The pastor and Wai Tun will have time already served deducted from their sentences, meaning they will be free later this month. The law carries a maximum sentence of one year plus a fine.
On his Facebook page, David Lah says he was born in Myanmar but based in Toronto, Canada, and that he travelled the world to give sermons.
The men were originally charged under a different section of the same law that carries a three year sentence, but the court downgraded the charge at the last minute.
When journalists asked why judge Moe Swe changed the charge, a media officer at the court replied: “Because they failed to comply with the directive of the General Administration Department of Mayangone Township.”
Myanmar has so far reported 357 Covid-19 cases, of which 305 have recovered and six have died.
