New York, NY – In a shocking turn of events, a Burmese national has been convicted of conspiring to assault a foreign official in a high-stakes trial that has left the international community reeling.
Phyo Hein Htut, 29, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to assault a foreign official after an eight-day trial before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román. The conviction stems from Htut’s involvement in a plot to assault Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to prosecutors, Htut, a citizen of Myanmar residing in New York, conspired to injure or kill the Ambassador between February 2021 and August 5, 2021. During this time, he communicated with an arms dealer in Thailand who sells weapons to the Burmese military, which overthrew Myanmar’s civilian government in February 2021.
Htut allegedly supplied information to the arms dealer about the Ambassador, the inner workings of Myanmar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and other Mission personnel. He also accepted money from the arms dealer to hire attackers to hurt the Ambassador in an attempt to force the Ambassador to step down from his post.
The maximum potential sentence for this crime is five years in prison, although any sentencing will be determined by a judge. The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Coffman and Benjamin Klein leading the prosecution.
The conviction is a significant blow to those who seek to harm foreign officials and a testament to the tireless work of law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, and the New York City Police Department.
Htut is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2024, before Judge Román. The outcome of this case serves as a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable for their actions.
Defendant: Phyo Hein Htut
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to assault a foreign official
City and State: New York, NY
Date: February 2021 – August 5, 2021
Sentence: Scheduled sentencing on March 14, 2024
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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