Myanmar’s SAC airs confession video of former Yangon Chief Minister of bribing Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar’s SAC airs confession video of former Yangon Chief Minister of bribing Aung San Suu Kyi
Published 23 March 2021
EMG

In a press conference held on March 23, the State Administration Council (SAC) presented a video of former Chief Minister of the Yangon Region Phyo Min Thein, a protege of Aung San Suu Kyi, confessing to giving 7 peittha (~ 11 kilograms) of gold and 600,000 US dollars to State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

"I am Phyo Min Thein and I served as the Chief Minister of Yangon Region. What I want to say regarding the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation is that it was a good place for people that want to curry favour with Aung San Suu Kyi. So that is why people donate to the foundation. I helped with hiring real estate within Yangon Region, belonging to the construction ministry. The Ministry of Construction had already agreed to build the foundation there so we had to comply. If we look at the rental fees for hiring land from the construction ministry, it is a huge difference from the current rates. To outsiders, it would cost around 35 to 40 Lakhs but we could get it for around 15 Lakhs for Daw Khin Kyi Foundation. Those actions were dependent on (the approval of) a single individual because the construction ministry would not carry this out for any person," said Phyo Min Thein in the video.

He also added that he met Aung San Suu Kyi several times during his term as the Yangon Region's Chief Minister. Whenever he attends the meeting of regional chief ministers, where the government usually transfers over vehicles and drivers for use by the chief ministers, he would also personally pay a visit to Aung San Suu Kyi's home around 3 or 4 times.

"Whenever I met her, I gave silk, foodstuff, dollars and gold into appropriate bags in order to get support and protection for my ongoing works in Yangon. The first time I visited her was in December 2017 together with a government-given vehicle, the driver, and personal secretary Maung Maung Kyi. When I get into her estate, I would ask the driver and secretary to remain in the vehicle while I took out the silk, 20 bundles of 100 US dollar bills which was 200 thousand USD as well as 25 pieces of Academy (brand) gold, which was a total of 2.5 peittha (~4 kilos), and gave them all to Aung San Suu Kyi personally for wherever she wanted to spend it on be it personal, for the party or for Daw Khin Kyi Foundation," continued Phyo Min Thein.

He also says that the second time was in 2018 where he provided an additional 200,000 US dollars and another 2.5 peittha of gold. "I personally met with Aung San Suu Kyi, asking her to support and protect my businesses in Yangon, and then gave her the bag containing 200,000 US dollars and 2.5 peittha of gold. When Maing Pong Sayadaw came to the Shan monastery near Hmaw Bi-Htauk Kyant, I also paid a visit. The Sayadaw wanted to give a Buddha bust around 9 inches in height to Aung San Suu Kyi through me. So I went again in June 2018 to meet Aung San Suu Kyi. Similar to the first and the second time, I asked the driver and the secretary to remain on in the car while I gave the Buddha statue as well as 200,000 USD made out of 20 bundles of 100-dollar bills as well as 20 pieces of gold with a total weight of 2 peittha to her so that she may use as she sees fit. All three times, the total combined to 600,000 USD and Academy gold 7 peittha (~ 11 kilograms) ," said the ex-chief minister of Yangon.

He also said that he discussed the gifts with his wife first before deciding to use his wealth from family-owned Academy diamond and gold trade business to purchase dollars and obtain the gold, which were subsequently given to Aung San Suu Kyi.



The full video: