PATHEIN, Irrawaddy Region — A detainee died of what authorities said was an accidental gunshot in the central police station of Bogale, Pyapon District, Irrawaddy Region, on Sunday afternoon.
An on-duty police constable accidentally fired his gun while watching two detainees fight each other inside their cell at about 4 p.m. The bullet went through the mouth of Tun Min, 19, killing him on the spot, the spokesman of the Irrawaddy Region police force, Lieutenant Colonel Tun Shwe, told The Irrawaddy.
Tun Min was accused of mugging and assaulting a teacher in Bogale and facing a charge under Section 394 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison with labor.
Bogale police station Sub-Lieutenant Zaw Min Tun has charged the constable, Aung Thu, with the death of the detainee.
“We have opened a case under Section 304 (a) of the Penal Code for negligence with a weapon. We will try him in a police court,” said Lt. Col. Tun Shwe.
Section 304 (a), which covers culpable homicide not amounting to murder, carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Three detainees escaped from their cell at the Bogale police station on Sept. 18, though all were re-arrested within 24 hours. Eight police officers including Sub-Lieutenant Hla Soe have been suspended from their duties, detained and put on trial for negligence.
Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko.