Four people have been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with hard labour each for trafficking a man with mental health issues to a fishing operation involving offshore fish traps, where his labour was exploited, according to sources.

The victim, who lived in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Region, went missing from his home, prompting his father, U Maung Maung Lwin, to search for him.

An investigation found that 10 people allegedly threatened and took the man away before arranging for him to work at a fishing operation. The group allegedly coordinated with three other individuals to exploit his labour for financial gain.

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Police Force's No. 6 Unit in Yangon filed a complaint, and Thaunggyi Police Station in Hlaing Tharyar (West) Township opened a case under Section 38(b) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law.

On October 1, Insein District Court sentenced four defendants — Aye Lwin, Kankaw Pan (also known as Pone Pone), Aung Ko Oo and Zaw Hlaing Maung — to 15 years in prison with hard labour each under Section 38(8) of the law.

Arrest warrants under Sections 87 and 88 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were issued for six other suspects who remain at large, identified as So Tay, Htun Win Hlaing (also known as Kala Wa Toke), Kyaw Naing Oo (also known as Pho Kyaw), Aung San (also known as Bon Toe), Ma Mya Mya Htwe (also known as Kalar Ma) and Yi Yi Than.