Sagaing Region former chief minister Dr Myint Naing gets 21- year prison sentence with labour
- Mon, 28 February 2022
28.2.2022
THE Sagaing Region High Court sentenced former chief minister Dr Myint Naing to 21 years in prison with labour for seven criminal cases (from 1/2021 to 7/2021) yesterday, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission. According to the investigation, Dr Myint Naing, during his tenure as the Chief Minister of the Sagaing Region Government, breached rules and reg ulations in conducting tenders with the capital fund for the 2020-2021 financial year, which has led to leaks of tender floor prices, making the state loss of benefits as 66 companies with a tender value of over K20,000 million won the tender according to the original floor price.
He was found guilty for concealing the report of the investigation team on taking bribes of U Wai Lin Hlaing, staff officer of the Water Resource and Improvement of River Systems Depart ment and Personal Assistant of former Minister for Planning and Finance U Soe Oo, and staff officer of the Depart ment of General Administration U Myat Thant Zin, who carried out calling for tenders with the regional fund for the financial year 2020-2021, so that no ac tion can be taken against them under the Anti-Corruption Law. Due to his permission to a per son to use 5.78 acres of lake owned by the Sagaing Region Department of Fisheries after receiving bribes, the State has lost K867 million. He was also found guilty for asking for a Hijet vehicle worth K11 million to be used at his refuge from a company owner who had businesses in Monywa. Without the permission of the Central Committee on Management of Fallow Lands and Virgin Lands, a house was built on 2.85 acres of state-owned land adjacent to the refuge as the house of the in-charge of the refuge. The former chief minister failed to follow and supervise the rules and regulations of the Myanmar Mining Law and Rules. Of the 243 small-scale gold blocks and 47 blocks permitted from the 2018-2019 financial year to the 2019-2020 financial year, the State lost more than K2,900 million in revenue due to his permission to operate without collecting advance tax to the State budget. Therefore, a case was filed against him under Section 55 of the Anti-Cor ruption Law in the Sagaing Region High Court on 17 May 2021 and was heard in seven criminal cases from Criminal Case No.1/2021 to 7/2021. As he was found guilty for the cases, he was sentenced to 21 years in prison (three years for each case) with labour, according to the Anti-Corruption Com mission.