Official Myanmar Records Didn't Accurately Show Where Jailed U.S. Journalist Worked

According to Myanmar-based U.S. journalist Danny Fenster's lawyer, his official detainment records do not accurately state where he worked.

The accusation comes after testimony by prosecution witnesses under cross-examination stating that a letter from the Information Ministry said that Fenster's name appeared in a list of editors for Myanmar Now. While previously working at the news site as a reporter and copy editor, he left Myanmar Now to become the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar in July 2020.

"The witnesses said that Danny is in charge of Myanmar Now according to a letter from the Information Ministry," Fenster's lawyer, Than Zaw Aung, told AP. "They testified in this way as Danny's name is included in a letter sent by the Information Ministry. I don't know why his name is on the list."

The development could be significant for Fenster, who has been detained for more than five months in Myanmar on charges brought against Myanmar Now. However, since he had not been working at the outlet for at least seven months, the revelation could dramatically change the case against him.

Fenster is charged with spreading false or inflammatory information, contacting illegal opposition groups, and violating visa conditions. The latter charge was added this past week. His trial is closed to the media and the public. He was detained on May 24 at Yangon International Airport, one of about 100 journalists arrested by the Myanmar government since February of 2021.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Myanmar Now and Frontier Myanmar have issued statements regarding Fenster's case.

Last month, the judge said Fenster had been sought in connection with activities by Myanmar Now together with its chief editor, Ko Swe Win, according to Fenster's lawyer. The judge also told Fenster that after Myanmar Now's license was revoked in March this year, it defied authorities by continuing to post stories about organizations opposed to the military takeover, the lawyer said.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price urged Myanmar's government on Thursday to immediately release Fenster.

"His detention, the detention of so many others, it's a sad reminder of the continuing human rights and humanitarian crisis facing the country of Burma, facing the Burmese, but also facing foreign nationals, including Americans, who happen to be in Burma." Price said, referring to Myanmar by its old name.

Newsweek previously reported that Fenster is being held at Yangon's Insein Prison and that the judge that was originally in charge of his case had to be replaced after he broke his arm.