Former Sagaing chief minister, ministers, officers charged with corruption

Former Sagaing chief minister, ministers, officers charged with corruption
Published 6 May 2021

A lawsuit has been filed against former Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr Myint Naing, four former ministers and two staff officers under the anti-corruption law, the State-owned MRTV announced at the 8pm news hour on May 5.

The Anti-Corruption Commission formed an enquiry team in response to the complaint that Dr Myint Naing committed corruption while serving as chief minister, said the announcement, which was also carried in the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper (English version).

According to the findings of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the former Sagaing Region Chief Minister during his tenure, leaked information on tender floor prices in the 2020-2021 FY, which violated the rules and regulations of the capital-intensive tender and 66 projects with a tender value of Ks20,000 million won the tenders according to the original floor price.

In calling for tenders to be carried out with the Region Fund for the 2020-2021 FY, former Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Oo and Staff Officer from the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department U Wai Lin Hlaing and Staff Officer from the General Administration Department U Myat Thant Sin concealed the report of the investigation team so that no action can be taken under the Anti-Corruption Law against the receiving money for the tender information. He also received money to allow a person to use a total of 5.78 acres of land owned by the Department of Fisheries in the Sagaing Region, causing a loss of the state-owned land worth of a minimum of Ks289 million to a maximum of Ks867 million. He asked a business owner in Monywa to donate a HIJET vehicle worth Ks11 million to be used at the Myitta Yeik Women’s Home, established by him and allowed to build the house for the Women’s home manager on the 2.85 acres without having any permission from the Central Committee for Management of Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands. He failed to comply with the rules and regulations of the Myanmar Mining Law and Rules and allowed to operate without collecting pre-payment taxes for 243 small blocks and 47 blocks among the gold blocks permitted between the 2018-2019 financial year and 2019-2020 financial year. A case has been filed against former Chief Minister Dr Myint Naing under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law after the investigation revealed that the State lost more than Ks2,900 million in revenue.

Moreover, in calling for tenders of the Sagaing Region Rural Road Development Department with 2020-2021 fiscal year regional fund, Chairman of the Tender Acceptance and Scrutiny Committee U Than Nyunt Win (former Minister of Industry and Transport) and Former Planning and Finance Minister U Soe Oo who was the tender floor price calculated behalf of the former Chief Minister were found guilty for leaking the tender information, causing loss to the State. A case has been filed against them under Section 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law, MRTV said.

Likewise, Former Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Kam Zar Mon, former Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Oo and former Minister for Sagaing Region Chin Ethnic Affairs U Lal Htaung Htan were found guilty for failing to provide systematic supervision on Dr Myint Naing, who failed to comply with the rules and regulations of the Myanmar Mining Law, which caused a more than Ks2,900 million loss to the State. A case has been filed against them under Sections 55 and 63 of the Anti-Corruption Law. Staff Officer U Wai Lin Hlaing, PSO of the Livestock and Irrigation Minister (former) of the Department of Irrigation and Water Utilization Management, told a company owner about the tender floor price and received a bribe of Ks90 million in four parts under Section 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

Another case has been filed against Staff Officer U Myat Than Sin under Section 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law for getting a bribe of 3 per cent of the business if the company he told the floor price won the tender worth about Ks433 million, MRTV announced.