Kachin State ex-chief minister Dr Khet Aung and ministers charged under anti-corruption law

Former Chief Minister for Kachin State Dr Khet Aung and former Ministers U Ne Win, U Zaw Win, U Wai Lin, U Win Nyunt, U La Sai (a) U Dashee La Sai, U Naw Le (a) Za Khaung Kham Ye, U Zaw Win, U Ne Win and former Director of the Kachin State Development Committee U Soe Naing have been charged under the Anti-Corruption Law yesterday, according to the Anti-Corruption Commission.
According to the investigation, former Kachin State chief minister Dr Khet Aung, former Kachin State Finance, Taxes, Planning and Economic minister U Wai Lin and former Kachin State minister for Transport, Electricity and Industry U Win Nyunt, during their tenues as ministers, granted permission a private company to pave 23 miles of AC asphalt Myitkyina-Bamo road, which was not included in the original plan in the 2017-2018 financial year, without calling for tender as per the directive of the President’s Office (1/2017). The company was able to operate with 11,007.009 million kyats to be handed over to the state. According to the QC team, the road needed to be repaired and due to non-compliance with the terms of the contract, the state’s property was damaged.
Former chief minister Dr Khet Aung, former minister U Wai Lin and former minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U La Sai (a) U Dashee La Sai auctioned 10,000 tonnes of quartz seized in 2020 and sold 5,000 tonnes each to two companies with K36,000 per tonne by the time the local price set by the Department of Mines is K60,000 per tonne, causing loss of K240 million in the state budget for 10,000 tonnes. Due to the non-payment of K72 million, which is 20% of revenue from the sale to the Union Budget, it caused a loss to the state fund.
The former chief minister and minister U Wai Lin spent K1,492.400 million from the General Reserve Fund-GRF of the 2018-2019 financial year to build a two-storey building in the State Government Office, although the State Finance Department presented such act was not following the financial regulation.
During their tenures as ministers, they reportedly failed to comply with the tender rules and regulations for bridge construction and road paving works in Kachin State, causing loss to the state fund, as well as they, received bribery numerous times from business persons.
In addition, Kachin State former Development and Social minister U Ne Win, U Nawl Le (a) Zakhaung Kham Ye, and Director of the Kachin State Development Committee U Soe Naing, were found to have spent more than K219 million for fuel and vehicle repair works of 23 unlicensed vehicles from the 2018-2019FY to 2019-2020FY, which caused damage to the state. – MNA