By SU MYAT MON & STEVE TICKNER | FRONTIER
YANGON – The chief suspect in the assassination of lawyer U Ko Ni remains at large, while supporters of the late National League for Democracy adviser have criticised the trial of those suspects who have been arrested.
Police have so far detained four men in connection with the brazen killing, which took place at Yangon International Airport on January 29, but U Aung Win Khaing, who police believe was the main figure behind the operation, has not been arrested. Media reports suggest he is in hiding around Nay Pyi Taw but authorities say they have not yet been able to locate him.
“The most important thing in this case is to find Aung Win Khaing,” said lawyer U Nay La, who told reporters he was supporting Ko Ni’s family throughout the trial. “In my personal view, the entire testimony is not sufficient,” he said in relation to the trial of the four suspects, the latest hearing of which took place at Insein court on Friday.
Nay La believes the key to finding Aung Win Khaing is identifying a driver who, he said, drove the suspect to Nay Pyi Taw on January 30, the day after the killing.
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“I think that the driver should be examined in further sessions,” he said.
Nay La added that the family had also struggled to obtain paperwork from authorities in relation to the trial.
Ko Ni, a renowned lawyer and close adviser to the National League for Democracy, was killed at Yangon Airport by U Kyi Lin, who also shot and killed taxi driver U Nay Win during his attempted escape.
