Police Station Head Accused of Taking Bribe in Underage Rape Case

By Lawi Weng 27 May 2019

The head police officer at Mudon Township Police Station in Mon State is under investigation for allegedly taking a bribe in the case of the rape of an underage child, according to local sources.

The incident happened at Kawkapone Village, Mudon Township. The 12-year-old girl was raped by her half-brother who was living in the same house as her.

The victim’s mother reported the incident to the police station in the town of Mudon on May 18 and the rapist was detained at the station on the same day.

U Khin Maung Tun, head of the police station asked for 100,000 kyats (US$65) each from both the victim’s mother and the accused rapist. A bribe from a victim’s family would usually be given in order to ensure action is taken against the perpetrator. A bribe paid by the perpetrator’s family is usually given to ensure better treatment while in police custody. The following day, U Aung Win, the father of both the accused and the victim, paid the 100,000-kyat bribe to U Khin Maung Tun.

Following complaints spread on social media about the police station head taking the bribe, a police investigation commission from the state capital’s Mawlamyine District Police Station examined the case on May 22.

The investigators met both U Khin Maung Tun, who is accused of taking the bribe, and U Aung Win, who paid the bribe.

Police Major Aung Min, who headed the investigation, told The Irrawaddy on Monday that U Khin Maung Tun claimed to have taken the money from the accused’s father as he thought it was to be used to buy food for his detained son. It is common in Myanmar for family members to bring food and supplies to those in temporary custody or prison.

However, Pol-Maj Aung Min said that in his testimony, U Aung Win had denied this, and told the commission that he gave the money to U Khin Maung Tun because the police officer had asked for the bribe.

U Khin Maung Tun denied asking for a bribe.

“It is the duty of the investigation commission to find out whether a bribe was really taken or not,” said Pol-Maj Aung Min.

The testimonies of both of the accused will be sent to the Mon state government first and later to the Anti-Corruption Commission in Naypyitaw.

Naypyitaw will then decide whether to take action against U Khing Maung Tun.

The Myanmar government formed the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2013 and it has since taken action against many officials, including police accused of corruption. However, corruption continues to be an ongoing issue among the government officials. Despite the country’s political reforms, most of those in positions of government administration have been in place since the military regime.

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