Maungdaw, Arakan State: Fifteen people from Maungdaw Township were called to Maungdaw Nasaka Headquarters of Kawar Bill on July 15, and have been detained and tortured by Nasaka (Burma's border security force ) intelligence as they gave statements against the Nasaka intelligence officer 2nd Lt Myo Aung for taking bribes. The officer was on duty in Maungdaw exit and entry gate earlier, said a relative (trader) one of the victims.

In May 2008, the officer Myo Aung and his accomplice Jamil, hailing from Shwe Zaar village of Maungda Township were arrested by a special group on corruption for taking bribes from some people.   After the arrest, they were brought to Nasaka area No.6 camp and were interrogated in a special court in the camp regarding the bribe. They have been detained in the camp.

In May, some people were called to the court from Maungdaw Township for interrogation about the bribes taken by the Nasaka officer.  These people were those who gave bribes to 2nd Lt Myo Aung and his co-worker.

The 15 people who were called and detained in Nasaka Headquarters have no crimes against them except that they were compelled to give money to officer They were accused on false and fabricated cases such as being involved in human trafficking, in money exchange, and smuggling to Bangladesh etc. In fact, they were accused to extort money.

Some arrestees of 15 the members are:Taher(40), son of Basa Meah , the former  village Chairman of Maung Ni Para of Maungdaw Township , Salim(30) from Ward No. 2 of Maungdaw town, Abu Siddique (45), son of Farooq from Let Tha Para of Hitaliya village tract of Maungdaw Township . He is a health worker. Kamal (44), hails from Ward No. 5 of Maungdaw Town and Ismail(40), former village secretary of Maung Ni Para and 10 others.

The Nasaka Intelligence officer and his co-worker extorted at least Kyat 5 million from the arrestees, said a relative of the victims.

It is learnt that the victims were arrested by senior Nasaka intelligence officer as to why the arrestees gave bribes to 2nd Lt. Myo Aung.  In reality, the arrestees gave money to the officer because they were compelled to pay bribes as they were tortured severely.

The senior Nasaka intelligence officer filed cases against the arrestees for bribing their intelligence officer 2nd Lt.Myo Aung, according to and aide of Nasaka.