No progress in Pauktaw child rape case leaves family fearing injustice

By Admin 23 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

July 23, 2026, Pauktaw

Family members of an 8-year-old child rape victim in Phaduchay Village, Pauktaw Township, an area under the control of the Arakan Army in Arakan State, have expressed deep frustration over the lack of progress by the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) in apprehending the suspect.

The perpetrator, identified as U Tun Aung Chay, 45, escaped from custody at DLEPS No. 4 Police Station following his initial arrest and remains at large.

More than five months after the suspect's escape, the victim's family reported that despite repeated appeals for his recapture, officers at No. 4 Police Station continue to handle the case with negligence.

"We went to the Minbya District Court on July 20. Court officials told us that the case cannot be prosecuted or brought to trial without authorization from the DLEPS office. So we went to the Minbya District DLEPS office, but officials there said the case file had not even arrived yet. Since the incident occurred, the case file has been sitting at No. 4 Police Station," said Daw Oo Than Nu, the victim's mother.

The assault occurred after 4:00 p.m. on March 3, when the 8-year-old girl from Phaduchay Village was sexually assaulted by U Tun Aung Chay.

Although the suspect was apprehended the following day, he escaped due to official negligence by DLEPS personnel and has evaded capture ever since.

To pursue legal action, the victim's family took the young girl to a station medical officer in the Kyauktaung area of Pauktaw Township to obtain a medical examination report, which was then submitted to No. 4 Police Station.

Family members noted that the case remains stalled at the local police station while the perpetrator remains free.

"Because the suspect escaped under their watch, it is DLEPS's responsibility to recapture him. Furthermore, since he escaped due to official negligence, we want those responsible to be disciplined as well. This is a child rape case, yet as time passes, no meaningful action has been taken and they continue to treat it casually. We fear the case will eventually fade away," said a male relative of the victim.

The victim's family continues to demand the immediate rearrest and effective prosecution of the perpetrator.

At least 16 cases of child rape and sexual violence have been documented in areas controlled by the Arakan Army in Arakan State, with suspects remaining at large in at least five of those cases.

The persistent lack of legal action regarding child rape and sexual assault cases has led local residents to increasingly question the rule of law in the state.