Kyaukme Township Immigration Office Allegedly Demanding Millions in Unofficial Fees

Kyaukme Township Immigration Office Allegedly Demanding Tens of Thousands in Kyats Under Official Guise

September 13

According to reports from local residents, the Immigration Office in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State, has been collecting money from the public under an official guise in connection with immigration procedures.

It is reported that a deputy immigration officer named Daw Ei Ei Thet has been demanding tens of thousands of kyats from those applying for household registration lists and citizenship scrutiny cards, claiming it is for a "township officer's fee."

In the case of 6/7 applications, she has been demanding over a hundred thousand kyats, citing township officer fees, district officer fees, and office fees. When paying in cash, the money must be placed in an envelope provided by the office, and if cash is not available, people are told to transfer the money to Daw Ei Ei Thet's Kpay number 09788420515, according to reports.

Daw Ei Ei Thet is reportedly the longest-serving employee at the Kyaukme Township Office, and there have been many people who were transferred out after she arranged for those she did not get along with to be relocated.

She is the wife of a military officer and is known to treat even the township immigration officer U Htin Aung and assistant township officer U Myo Tun Oo with disrespect.

Kyaukme is a town that was recaptured by the military, and alongside the resumption of the administrative machinery, misconduct by departmental staff has frequently come to light.

MyoTaw News Channel