The 27-year-old man attempted to extort money from the owners of five furniture shops in Kalay Township.
A 27-year-old man was arrested last week in Kalay Township, Sagaing Region, after extorting money from furniture shops and claiming to be a policeman.
Ye Tun, of Yan Myo Aung village, introduced himself to owners of five small businesses in three Kalay villages as a “special police inspector” on August 22 and asked for money. He was arrested after one shop owner, Rodin Liang, questioned his line and then reported the suspicious behavior to a village headman.
“[Ye Tun] arrived at my home and introduced himself as a special police inspector from Naypyidaw,” said another business owner, Larin Hkuk. “He asked me for my business license. He threatened me, saying, ‘if you don’t have a business license, the police will arrest you this evening. If you don’t want to be arrested, you must pay 120,000 kyats [US$78].’”
Larin Hkuk went on to say that Ye Tun made a phone call and alleged that other police officers were on their way. When he explained that he did not have enough money to pay the cost of not having proper licensing, Larin Hkuk said that Ye Tun informed the village headman, and that Larin Hkuk was left with no choice but to pay the fine that Ye Tun was demanding.
Ye Tun is now in police custody and is being charged with violations of Criminal Act 452/384, which concerns trespassing and is punishable by a fine and up to seven years in prison.
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