Five former Arakan State ministers charged under Anti-Corruption Law

By DMG 01 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
1 December 2021, Sittwe 

Five former Arakan State ministers, including former Chief Minister U Nyi Pu, were formally charged under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law on December 1. 

The five former ministers were arraigned at a special court in Sittwe Prison on Wednesday and charged under the Anti-Corruption Law, according to a lawyer representing the ousted chief minister. 

“The prosecution witnesses were questioned and the judge heard the appeal. The five former ministers including the ex-chief minister were sued with corruption charges. The remaining prosecution witnesses will be questioned at the next court hearing,” said U Aye Kyaw Tun, a lawyer from the Thazin Legal Institute. 

Former Arakan State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu; former economic minister U Kyaw Aye Thein; former Minister for Electricity and Transport U Aung Kyaw Zan; former Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Mining U Kyaw Lwin; and former Minister for Municipal Affairs U Min Aung have been charged under the Anti-Corruption Law since the military coup that toppled the National League for Democracy (NLD) government of which they were a part on February 1. 

“The court announced that the former ministers were sued under the Anti-Corruption Law,” said U Aung Sit Min, a lawyer with the Thazin Legal Aid Institute representing U Kyaw Aye Thein.  

U Nyi Pu, U Kyaw Aye Thein, U Aung Kyaw Zan and U Kyaw Lwin are accused of misappropriating funds in relation to a low-cost construction project in Gwa Township, as well as violating tender rules and regulations, and abuse of power. 

U Nyi Pu, U Kyaw Aye Thein and U Aung Kyaw Zan were also sued for allegedly providing financial assistance to Sittwe-based Glorious Saw Co., Ltd to create job opportunities for locals without scrutinising the proposal. 

Ex-minister U Min Aung has been accused of not contributing money to the local government and illegally bidding for five markets, including the Taungup Myoma Market, without the permission of the Arakan State legislature. 

Further hearings in the cases of the five former Arakan State ministers have been scheduled for December 8 and 10. 

Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.