Myanmar to Charge Human Trafficker Arrested in Surat Thani

illegal workers working on a fishing boat who were captured

 

YANGON – The Myanmar police authorities will charge a Myanmar human traffickers, Ko Myo, who has been captured in Thailand along with three other suspects, state media reported Monday.

Quoting Police Colonel Win Naing Tun, the report said Ko Myo was arrested in a raid by a combined force comprising Thai authorities and Myanmar embassy officials on Aug. 1 in Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani.

Four of the 14 trafficked victims were rescued from a port in Kantang, it said.

According to testimonies of the victims, Ko Myo was involved in human trafficking, labor abuse, rape and exploitation over the victims to control workers and trawlers.

He was identified as the leader of a trafficking gang and involved in murdering as well, according to the testimonies by another victim, Aye Min, who was his aide and sold out by him to work as trawler for three years.

Ko Myo is being held in custody at a hospital after sustaining gunshot wound during the raid.

Win Naing Tun, who is the deputy chief of Myanmar anti-human trafficking police corps, was quoted as saying that investigation is being made on Ko Myo for his involvement and the Myanmar authorities are working together with the Thai counterpart to charge him in accordance with Thai law.