Maungdaw, Arakan: An officer of the Maungdaw Income Tax Department, U Aye Win was arrested by the special Crime Investigation Department of Maungdaw on July 30, said a local businessman.

The officer was posted on the Burma-Bangladesh special trading gate in Maungdwa town and his duty was to check and collect tax on export-import goods from Burma and Bangladesh , he added.

On a tip off, the officer was arrested after investigations at the outpost revealed that he allowed contraband goods to be exported to Bangladesh after taking bribes from traders of Maungdaw. He allowed mostly liquor and other contraband goods which are not listed as export items, said a trader who operates through the point.

This is the first time an income tax officer has been arrested on the border trading point.  His file has been sent to the authorities for necessary action. Exemplary punishment to the culprit has been recommended as a lesson to other officers working on the Burma- Bangladesh border trading points, said a source in the Customs Department.