Myanmar’s junta on Tuesday charged the investment minister U Thaung Tun from the ousted civilian government with corruption.
The regime-controlled broadcaster announced that he was being charged under Article 55 of the Anti-Corruption Law over allegations that 3.6 hectares in Yangon were rented to a company below the market rate. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
U Thaung Tun, who was also a national security adviser, has been detained since the Feb. 1 coup. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint have also been held since the coup and face several charges, including on alleged corruption.
Corruption charges have been brought against the ousted government’s ministers and officials, despite a lack of evidence and their popularity with voters.
U Thaung Tun, a retired ambassador who served in Washington, Geneva, New York and Brussels under the former military regime, led the newly formed Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations in 2018.
Before that, he was a national security adviser and government office minister.
The investment minister strived to reassure foreign investors that Myanmar was a favorable, friendly and predictable investment environment and promised them a level playing field.
His ministry moved quickly to secure external assistance and drew up medium- and long-term recovery plans to maintain economic reforms amid challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
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