Myanmar Aviation Chief Charged with Corruption
By Zaw Zaw Htwe 12 January 2021
Yangon – The Anti-Corruption Commission of Myanmar (ACC) has filed a lawsuit against a manager at the Ministry of Transport and Communications for allegedly soliciting bribes.
The ACC said on Monday that it had launched an investigation against U Soe Paing, general manager of the Department of Civil Aviation, after receiving reports of corruption.
U Soe Paing is accused of abusing his position while director of the Air Traffic Control Inspection and general manager of the Air Navigation Control Division.
The ACC said the accused had solicited up to US$100 (134,000 kyats) from foreign agents and operators for each flight permit.
The general manager is alleged to have asked for bribes totaling US$72,000 (96 million kyats) from 12 foreign operators using a foreign bank account in his name, according to the ACC.
The ACC said it opened a case with Yangon’s Mingaladon Township police under Article 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law, which carries sentences of up to 10 years.
On Dec. 14, the ACC also filed lawsuits against Dr. Maung Maung Soe, director of Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department in Magwe Region and deputy director Daw Thandar Sint for abusing their authority and misusing government funds.
Transparency International, a global coalition against corruption, in November praised the ACC for taking on high-level figures and winning public trust.
U Aung Kyi, 74, resigned as chairman of the ACC in early December, saying he wanted to focus on meditation.
The ACC is currently being led by its secretary as interim chairman.
