A former reporter who was imprisoned under a law designed to punish comments that imply the military junta’s rule is illegitimate has died of cancer at an infamous prison near Yangon, a former coworker told Radio Free Asia.

Nay Linn Htike, a former freelance reporter for the independent Democratic Voice of Burma in eastern Bago region, died on July 29, according to the former coworker who requested anonymity for security reasons.

Several friends told RFA that Nay Linn Htike was suffering from oral cancer and was transferred from Daik-U Prison in a remote area of Bago region to Insein Prison to receive specialized medical care.

“He liked beetroot and developed ulcers in his mouth and was unable to receive adequate medical treatment,” one of the friends said.

Nay Linn Htike, who was in his 40s, published articles in the Democratic Voice of Burma before the February 2021 military coup.

The former coworker said Nay Linn Htike was arrested while campaigning against the military after the coup and was prosecuted under Section 505(a) of the penal code, which was added by junta authorities to crack down on anti-military speech.

He was also charged under Section 52(a) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which was also amended by the junta after the coup to make it easier to prosecute critics. He received an eight-year sentence.

“He was detained while participating in anti-military activities, reportedly as an organizer,” the former coworker said.

The friend told RFA that he received messages from Nay Linn Htike just before he was transferred to Insein.

“He wanted to ensure that those connected to him were informed about his whereabouts and health conditions,” the friend said.

Another friend of Nay Linn Htike told RFA that his family were unable to visit him at either of the prisons because they have been avoiding junta authorities.

RFA was unable to contact anyone at the office of the deputy director general of the junta’s Prisons Department to inquire about Nay Linn Htike’s death.