In Pazundaung Township, Yangon, police and administrators arrested a civilian on allegations of lottery selling and demanded 32 million kyats (320 lakhs) as reported by local residents. The incident occurred on February 4th when U Maung Myint, a resident of Zizawa Street in Ward 8 of Pazundaung Township, was arrested by police and administrators. Following the arrest, Township Police Chief Police Major Min Han, Station Chief Police Captain Zaw Zaw, Local Security Police Lieutenant Nyi Min Naing, Ward 7 Administrator Bo Kyaw Min, and Pyusawthi member Jo Jo demanded the money.
The extortion was reportedly carried out without the knowledge of Ward 8 Administrator Myo Myint, with Pyusawthi member Jo Jo and Ward 7 Administrator Bo Kyaw Min collaborating with the police. According to local residents, U Maung Myint was accused of selling lottery tickets and was forced to pay the demanded amount, which was then distributed among the involved officials. The incident highlights the ongoing abuse of power by authorities against civilians.
In a similar incident in Myitkyina, Kachin State, military personnel extorted two ticals of gold from a civilian after falsely accusing them of drug use. On March 19th, military personnel and police conducting checks near Myanmar Economic Bank in Myitkyina stopped a motorcycle rider, accused them of drug use, physically assaulted them, and seized two ticals of gold. When the victim sought help at a nearby police station, the authorities ignored the complaint. These incidents demonstrate the continuing pattern of extortion and abuse by military-affiliated authorities against civilians, with law enforcement officials either participating in or turning a blind eye to such crimes.
