Section 99A is amended with an additional condition “the materials related to the case shall be confiscated as public finance,” while Section 105A defines the offenses “(to) be identified as cognizable offenses.”8 A legal specialist commented that the amendments are devised to broaden the law’s scope, thus restricting streams and broadcastings by online news outlets. In addition, applying the amended law will repress license-revoked or unlicensed media agencies. At the same time, identifying as a cognizable offense means the police force has the authority to arrest journalists and news media agencies without a warrant issued by the court.9 3.2. Journalists Jailed with Criminal Offenses On 1st March, Aung Kyaw, a DVB correspondent in Myeik was arrested, and sentenced to two years in prison on 2nd June under Section 505 of the Penal Code. He was released on an amnesty on 18th October. On 3rd March, Min Nyo, a DVB correspondent based in Pyay, was violently beaten, and arrested, and sentenced to three years in prison under Section 505A of the Penal Code on 12th May. He was released on 18th October with an amnesty. Min Nyo was the first journalist to be sentenced after the coup. On 16th March, May Thwe Aung, a female DVB correspondent based in Okkan, was arrested while covering for the news with her journalist husband. For violating the curfew, she was sentenced to one-month imprisonment under Section 188. On 24th March, Taunggyi-based Kanbawza Times’s editor Nang Nang Tai, reporter Nang Win Yee, publisher Tin Aung Kyaw, and housekeeper Sai Sithu (accused to be a journalist) were arrested while hiding in Hopong township. They were sentenced to three years in prison on 10th December under Section 505A of the Penal Code. On 5th April, Thet Naing Win, a DVB correspondent in Minhla was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison on 16th June under Section 505A of the Penal Code. He was released on an amnesty on 18th October. On 7th April, Zaw Zaw, a Mizzima correspondent in Myeik, was arrested, and sentenced to two years in prison on 2nd June under Section 505A of the Penal Code. He was released on an amnesty on 18th October. Thet Tun Aung (aka Maung Htoo San), a freelance photojournalist, was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison on 3rd June under Section 505A of the Penal Code. On 20th April, Aung Myo Htet, a freelance journalist based in Kanbalu Township, was arrested, and sentenced to two years in prison on 30th November under Section 505A of the Penal Code. 8 9 Source: Interview with legal specialist. Source: Interview with legal specialist. Repeated Dark Age of News Media 20