RANGOON—The four men believed to be responsible for murdering a young man and gang-raping his female partner in Naypyidaw last week have been arrested.
The official Facebook page of the Ministry of Information reported today that police arrested two men, Aung Tin Myo (also known as Aung Paing), 20, and Kyaw Maung (aka Zaw Zaw Aung), 19, yesterday evening. Two other men, Myo Zaw Win (aka Ko Myo), 16, and Zaw Lay (aka Zaw Myo Thu), 20, were handed over to the police this morning.
“Their family members came in and handed them over. We will now proceed with the murder and rape charges,” a police officer told the Irrawaddy.
The couple, both 16 years old, lived in the village of Thabyaybin in the neighboring Lewe Township. Four men riding two motorbikes threatened the couple at knifepoint and brought them to an area near the Junction Center shopping mall around 1am on Sept. 30.
The male victim was found with multiple stab wounds. The police have now opened a case that will charge the suspects with murder and rape.
According to the state newspaper The Mirror, Police Col. Ko Ko Aung of Naypyidaw said that the offenders are all around 20 years old, that the late-night crime was not linked to revenge or money, and that the men accused allegedly committed the crime while under the influence of alcohol.
“Young men and women should avoid being around deserted places late at night, and they should avoid drinking too much alcohol while they’re out, which can easily fuel violent activity,” he said, adding that the police force intends to uphold the rule of law.
