Naypyitaw CNJ Crime News Team's Arrest and Assault Leads to Death of a Minor

Naypyidaw, Pyinmana Township - The CNJ Crime News Team arrested three youths, and during the beating that followed, the situation got out of hand, resulting in the death of a minor, according to reports.

On August 20, a youth aged only about 15 and three other young people were arrested by five members of the CNJ Crime News Team on charges of stealing a phone, it has been learned.

"They arrested the kids saying they stole a phone. When they came to arrest them, there were no police officers with them. Five people from their CNJ crime team arrived and without even questioning them, they beat and kicked them as soon as they saw them, then took them away. They work together with the police, grabbing and arresting young people. Those who can pay money are released after making arrangements with them," a local resident of Pyinmana told MyoTaw.

The arrests were carried out by five people, including District Officer U Soe Lat (a) Bella Bike and Pyinmana Township Officer Ko Khant (a) Aung San Oo of the CNJ Crime News Team, according to reports.

"The kids were moved from Pyinmana Police Station to Ywargauk Police Station. The leader of the CNJ Crime News Team's wife said they could be released by paying money. Regarding the boy's death, they said it wasn't their doing - they claimed he died because he had an illness. There have also been threats telling the boy's parents to accept compensation money and settle the matter. Since Ywargauk Police Station is on their side, the case will likely be closed," another local resident further told MyoTaw.

Among the three arrested youths, the one who died after being beaten by the CNJ Crime News Team was a youth aged only about 15 from U Kyay Ward, Pyinmana Township. It has been learned that on August 24, yesterday, the body was collected from the 1,000-bed public hospital and cremated.