The military council has arrested Northeast Military Command Commander Brigadier General Myint Kyaw Htun, Command Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Htun Naing Soe, and strategic commanders from Mong Hsat and Tangyan for allegedly accepting billions in bribes from Chinese online gambling syndicates. The arrests took place on February 28, with military sources confirming the charges are related to illegal financial gains from gambling operations along the Chinese border.
Command Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Htun Naing Soe was particularly implicated in direct involvement with online gambling operations in Tangyan, Mongkat, and Mong Hsat areas, reportedly receiving monthly payments in both Chinese yuan and Myanmar kyat amounting to hundreds of millions. Additionally, he was known for abusing subordinate soldiers, while his wife also participated in mistreating lower-ranking personnel. Both were reported to be drug users according to military families. Despite previous complaints about Lieutenant Colonel Htun Naing Soe’s involvement in gambling operations, he had avoided prosecution due to his family connection to Military Council Secretary General Lieutenant General Aung Lin Dwe as his nephew.
The investigation and subsequent arrests came amid the military council’s losses in the Northeast Command area, leading to broader scrutiny of corruption within the ranks. The case has exposed extensive involvement of high-ranking military officials in illegal gambling operations, with sources suggesting more arrests may follow as investigations continue into other commanders who have served in various strategic regions including the Eastern Command, East-Central Command, and Triangle regions.
