They were released on 25 July 2018 after the Yangon Eastern District Court accepted an appeal from Yell Htwe Aung's family asking to settle the case.
According to court documents, Yangon Region Attorney General approved the request from his family to drop the case, citing a lack of evidence implicating the accused.
[7][8] After Than Htut Aung was released, he posted a Facebook profile picture featuring a laughing boy wearing a robber mask, seemingly mocking the laws.
The release of murder suspects without any charges being filed raised public criticism, and prompted calls by lawmakers, activists and lawyers to investigate officials involved in the decision to drop the case.
[11] On 13 September 2018, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a lawsuit against the Yangon Region Attorney-General Han Htoo, a district judge, three other government attorneys and a police officer for taking bribes worth more than K 70 million (US$46,300) to drop the case.