US journalist jailed in Myanmar for nearly 6 months is freed

BANGKOK — American writer Danny Fenster, who was precocious sentenced to 11 years of hard labour aft spending astir six months successful jailhouse successful military-ruled Myanmar, has been freed.

Bill Richardson, a erstwhile U.S. diplomat who helped negociate the release, said Fenster was connected his mode location Monday.

“This is the time that you anticipation volition travel erstwhile you bash this work,” Richardson said successful a connection emailed by his office. “We are truthful grateful that Danny volition yet beryllium capable to reconnect with his loved ones, who person been advocating for him each this time, against immense odds.”

Fenster, 37, is the managing exertion of the online mag Frontier Myanmar. The Detroit antheral was convicted Friday of spreading mendacious oregon inflammatory information.

Fenster has been detained successful Myanmar for much than 5 months. He's faced charges that see visa breaches, unlawful relation with an amerciable radical and incitement nether conception 505a of Myanmar's Penal Code, which marque it a transgression to people oregon circulate comments that "cause fear" oregon dispersed "false news," CNN reports.

His condemnation was the harshest yet among the 7 journalists known to person been convicted since the subject ousted the elected authorities of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi successful February.