EU sanctions Myanmar’s DKBA and five senior figures over Myawaddy scam compounds

Mizzima

The European Union imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and five of its senior figures on 30 July, accusing the armed group of protecting large-scale online scam compounds around Myawaddy and enabling organised criminal networks to operate in areas under its control.

The five sanctioned DKBA figures are chief of staff Saw San Aung, Major General Sai Kyaw Hla, former commander-in-chief Saw Steel, adjutant-general Saw Sein Win, and Colonel Saw Eh Le Htoo, according to the accompanying EU legal decision. The two other individuals sanctioned in the same action are Cambodia-based conglomerate chairmen Chen Zhi and Zhu Zhongbiao.

The EU said the DKBA allowed scam compounds to operate under its protection, provided security for the facilities and benefited from revenue generated by their criminal activities. The legal decision specifically named the Tai Chang compound and identified Saw Eh Le Htoo as the reported operator of Deeko Park, another scam compound south of Myawaddy.