China prosecutes three suspects from northern Myanmar over telecom fraud

Three individuals suspected of operating for an extended period in Myanmar and leveraging armed forces to carry out criminal activities have been indicted on multiple charges in China, prosecutors in Quanzhou, Fujian province, announced on Saturday.

Among the major suspects is Wai San, who is accused of collaborating with others to allegedly commit telecom fraud targeting Chinese nationals in Kokang, northern Myanmar, according to the Quanzhou prosecutors.

The prosecutors said that they have filed a prosecution against the three suspects to the Quanzhou Intermediate People's Court, and that the charges include fraud, intentional homicide, organizing illegal border crossings, and extortion.

Before the prosecution, Chinese judicial authorities have taken actions against scammers targeting Chinese people in Myanmar.

At the end of last month, 39 members of a family-run syndicate based in northern Myanmar were convicted on multiple charges, including crimes that involved the killing of 14 Chinese nationals and injuring six others, the Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in East China's Zhejiang province said.

It found the defendants guilty of 14 offenses, such as fraud, intentional killing and intentional injury. Sentences were handed down based on each individual's criminal acts, circumstances, and the degree of harm caused to society. Eleven people, including ringleaders Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, were sentenced to death. Five others received death sentences with a two-year reprieve, and 11 were given life imprisonment.