19 charged for trafficking university student

19 charged for trafficking university student
Published 5 December 2019
Nay Win Htet

 

A lawsuit has been filed against 19 people for their involvement in trafficking a Dagon University student, said Police Colonel Khin Maung Kywe of Yangon Region Anti-Human Trafficking Force. 

The police stations of Kyauktada, Dala and Hlinethaya townships are collectively suing the accused for human trafficking student Myat Thura Tun to work on sea fishing rafts in Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Region. 

"A lawsuit has been lodged against them. Now we are in the process of interrogation. We act as plaintiffs. We are cooperating. The case is being dealt with by respective police stations. In Yangon, 19 people face lawsuits," said the police colonel. 

The human traffickers sold the final year student from Dagon University, majoring in history, to fish wholesalers in Pyapon Township, Ayeyawady Region, for Ks 700,000.

The student was sold into forced labour at a fish farm when he came to Yangon on a job as asked by his parents on October 2.

The human traffickers sold him to fish wholesale shops in Pyapon for K700,000. After about 45 days, he was released as his parents paid the money back. He was injured as he was tortured by a supervisor of the fishing raft.  

Police first arrested fishing raft supervisor Kyaw Aung and a male broker named Bala Gyi. 

Shortly before and after the case of the Dagon University student went viral on social media networks, there have been widespread rumors of human trafficking operations that are seemingly targeting people living in sub-urban and rural areas.