Burmese Court Gives 30 Month Sentences To Bar Owner and Manager For Buddha Facebook Ad

BBC News reported yesterday that a court in Myanmar has found the manager of the upscale VGastro Bar in Yangon (a New Zealander), along with the bar's owner and a colleague (both Burmese), guilty of intentionally plotting to insult religious belief by uploading to Facebook an ad that depicted a psychedelic mock-up of the Buddha wearing DJ headphones.  The ad promoted a cheap drinks night. The bar owner claimed the posting was the responsibility of the bar manager. The three men have been in jail since they were denied bail last December. (See prior posting.)  Each was now sentenced to two-and-one-half years in prison, apparently 6 months longer than the prescribed maximum sentence under Myanmar Penal Code Sec. 295A. [Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.]