The 25 February 2011 edition of Snap Shot journal contains a short article in which the new CEO of The Myanmar Times, Dr. Tin Tun Oo, takes issue with the reportage of some domestic news journals and international news bureaus on the criminal cases against his predecessor, Australian businessman Ross Dunkley.

According to Snap Shot, Tin Tun Oo in a statement warned that as the court had not yet reached a decision on the case, the media should not write reports with language suggesting the outcome, or including details of what the police recorded as the complainant’s statement about the alleged offences. He also stated that such reports could damage the reputation of Myanmar Consolidated Media staff.

Despite the admonishing tone of this piece, a week before, Snap Shot itself published an article on the case that was apparently lifted from the police complaint lodged against Dunkley. As there has been some confusion about the nature of the charges, it is worth noting that according to the February 18 article, two cases were lodged, one under section 13(1) of the Immigration Act, and another under sections 325/354/342 of the Penal Code. The offences listed under these sections of the code are: causing grievous hurt, punishable by up to seven years in prison; assault or criminal force against a woman, punishable by up to two years in prison; and, wrongful confinement, punishable by up to one year in prison.

Both reports are available above for the information of New Mandala readers who are following the case.