Aug 28, 2008 (DVB), A National League for Democracy member who has reported on government corruption cases in the past has been sentenced to 13 months' imprisonment on charges of obstructing a government official.

Tontay NLD member Ma Sandar was sentenced under sections 353 and 294 of the penal code for obstructing a public servant and obscenity.

The charges were brought against her by Tontay township deputy police sergeant Soe Win Aung in February.

The incident took place when two people who bought car batteries from Ma Sandar were stopped and questioned by police and intelligence agents, who then went to Ma Sandar's shop and got into an argument with her.

Ma Sandar's husband U Zaw Myint Tun said he believed the charges against her were politically motivated because she had reported cases of official corruption to senior authorities in the past.

Her daughter Theint Theint Thu agreed, saying that her mother had never broken any laws, but was working on behalf of the people.

"She reported the local authorities' corruption to senior officials to let general Than Shwe know about it and this was within the law," she said.

Other township residents also said Ma Sandar had been treated unfairly, citing the example of a man who had attacked the township deputy police chief and had only been given a 1000 kyat fine.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw