YANGON - A Myanmar court on Thursday sentenced a Dutch tourist to three months in prison and a fine after he unplugged a public address system that was relaying a Buddhist sermon, his lawyer said. Mr Haytema told a court hearing on Tuesday he was unaware a religious ceremony was in progress, but disconnected the hall's loudspeakers because they were disturbing his sleep, said Hla Ko, a Myanmar lawyer who volunteered to represent the Dutchman. Sermons broadcast through the night using loudspeakers are a common practice in the Southeast Asian country, where the vast majority of people are Buddhists. A judge convicted Mr Haytema of "causing disturbance to an assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship," Hla Ko told Reuters. "I plan to lodge an appeal for him against the verdict," Hla Ko added.

Source: Bangkok Post October 06, 2016 10:30 UTC