YANGON (DPA) - A Yangon court on Friday (Feb 15) sentenced two men to death for the 2017 murder of Mr Ko Ni, a legal adviser to Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

One of the men, Kyi Lin, shot Mr Ko Ni in the head at point blank range at Yangon's international airport on Jan 29, 2017. He also shot dead a taxi driver who tried to prevent him from fleeing.

The other, Aung Win Zaw, was accused of hiring Kyi Lin to carry out the assassination.

A third accomplice, Zeyar Phyo, was sentenced to five years in prison for bankrolling the killing, and a fourth, Aung Win Htun, was sentenced to three years for helping Aung Win Zaw avoid arrest.

A fifth suspect, Aung Win Khine, the brother of Aung Win Htun and Aung Win Zaw, is believed to have masterminded the assassination. He remains at large, and Interpol has issued a Red Notice calling for his arrest.

Mr Ko Ni, one of Myanmar's most prominent Muslim figures, was credited with creating the powerful position of state counsellor for Ms Suu Kyi in order to bypass the constitutional regulations that barred her from Myanmar's presidency.

At the time of his death, he had been developing a plan to replace the constitution altogether.

Prosecutors presented Aung Win Khine, Aung Win Zaw, and Zeyar Phyo - all former military officers - as opponents of Ko Ni's proposed reforms. However, no evidence suggested that active military officials were involved in the killing.

Three of the men maintained their innocence. Lawyers for Kyi Lin, who was caught on camera shooting Ko Ni, argued that he carried out the assassination under duress from another conspirator.

As the four convicts left the courthouse following their sentencing, Zeyar Phyo said: "They've convicted me even though I was not involved."

The death sentences for Kyi Lin and Aung Win Zaw are unlikely to be carried out. Watchdog Amnesty International categorises Myanmar as a de facto abolitionist country, with no executions having been carried for at least 10 years.