Maungdaw: A village chairman in Maungdaw on the western Burma border was arrested by Nasaka, Burma’s border security force on Friday on charges of rape, but he was later released on bail, said a community leader.

"The village chairman was arrested by Nasaka for raping a teacher working for the UN education programme in Maungdaw Township. But Nasaka later released him on bail after taking a fat bribe," he added.

The village chairman, Zia Bu Rahman from Alay Than Kyaw Kayin Dan Village, allegedly raped a Muslim woman teacher, xxxxx, on the night of 4 June, when she was alone in her rented home.

She hails from Buthidaung and is working as a teacher with the UN education programme in Kayin Dan Village. She is living with another woman teacher in a rented house that belongs to former village chairman Oli Ahmaud.

"On that day, she was alone in the house as the other teacher left for her village of Mawra Waddy. Around 8:30 pm the chairman entered the house and raped the teacher. The chairman was caught red-handed by local people when the teacher cried out for help. He was handed over to Nasaka Area No. 7 headquarters," the community leader said.

However, Nasaka Commander Nay Myo released him on bail on 6 May after taking four million kyat.

A local source said, Nasaka officials interrogated many villagers about the rape, but did not make any arrests or file charges in court against the culprit.