YANGON: It has been reported that a police officer assigned to the Mon State Parliament security in Mawlamyine was kidnapped and taken to be sold as a fisherman.
On Friday (June 19), at around 4.30pm, Zaw Win Htun, a police officer assigned to the security of the Mon State Parliament in Mawlamyine, was visiting Nagamauk Pagoda on a mountain ridge in Mawlamyine.
While he was sitting alone on the square, three unknown men approached him and took him with them.
Policeman Zaw Win Htun said that he could not go with them because he was a police officer on duty.
One of the three men said, “What are you doing? I am a major,” and forcibly took Policeman Zaw Min Htun away, hitting him twice on the ear and taking him into custody.
Then, the so-called major drove a motorcycle, and one of the men behind him took him on a seat, while another man followed him on a motorcycle and took him to Kyokkhami, Thanbyuzayat Township.
At around 8pm, he was forcibly taken to the home of Tin Zar Lwin, a fishmonger, in Kyokkhami.
Then, when police officer Zaw Min Htun asked for the advance payment of 12 million kyats that the group had asked for from the so-called major, Tin Zar Lwin realised that something was wrong and directed police officer Zaw Min Htun to the Kyaw Khmi Police Station.
After going to the police station, police officer Zaw Min Htun informed the authorities about the incident.
Then, at 8.45pm, a team led by Police Chief San Ko Ko Oo from Kyokkhami Police Station went to inspect the home of Tin Zar Lwin and found three people: Tin Than, 51, of Myay Ni Kone Ward, Bhuta Gyi Wun, Mawlamyine Township; Tin Min Htut, 46, of Zaw Kone Village, Kya In Village Tract, Mawlamyine Township; and Phyo Ko Ko, 38, of Myay Ni Kone Ward, Bhuta Gyi Wun, Mawlamyine Township.
During the search, two motorcycles were found with the three of them, as well as a recruitment (assistant) verification card of the Tatmadaw Military Recruitment Office (Mawlamyine) in the name of U Tin Than (the card is being verified as forged and genuine).
The three were arrested and taken to the Kyawkham Township Police Station and are being investigated jointly with the No. (9) Anti-Human Trafficking Police Unit (Mawlamyine), it was reported. - Eleven Media/ANN
