Military court sentences former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut to five-year prison term

Published 11 November 2023

EMG

The State Administration Council (SAC) announced on November 10 that a military court sentenced former Union Minister for Home Affairs, former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut, to five years in prison.

When former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut served as the Union Minister for Home Affairs, he has been charged with the relevant law sections for using his position and power to issue passports by using his position and authority to request assistance from companies to operate the Myanmar passport service through the Green Channel system, accepting bribes and failing to maintain and supervise activities that are inconsistent with the financial procedures of the Ministry of Home Affairs's employee welfare fund, it said.

After the charges were filed, he was tried by a military court and sentenced to five years in prison. It is reported that those who were involved in the case are continuing to take action in the district courts and police officials who were involved in the case are continuing to take action according to police discipline.

In last October, a military court sentenced ex-Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, a former SAC member, to life imprisonment term which was the equivalent of twenty years in prison.

Former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut and former Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun are among the confidants of SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Former Lieutenant General Soe Htut is the son of Brigadier General Lun Maung (deceased). He served as the Chief of Military Security Affairs in Tatmadaw, and since February 2020, he has served as the Union Minister for Home Affairs.

Then, after February 2021, in addition to serving as Union Minister for Home Affairs, he was jointly appointed as a member of SAC and Deputy Prime Minister. On August 3, 2023, during the preparation and formation of the Union Cabinet, Lt. Gen. Soe Htut had to give up the duties of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, and was transferred to the position of Union Minister for the Office of the Union Cabinet (1).

After that, on September 25, former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut and former Lt. Gen. Moe Myint Tun were removed as members of the SAC on September 25. Former Lt. Gen. Soe Htut was also removed from the position of Union Minister. At that time, he was only ordered to carry out military duties, and now it has been announced that he has been sentenced to prison term.