Irrawaddy-Jan 8
Kyaw Min Oo, a US-sanctioned arms broker for the Myanmar military, has been convicted of attempting to leave Singapore with over half a million in unreported Singapore dollars, according to the island state’s police force. The founder of Sky Aviator Co. Ltd. tried to leave Changi airport without declaring S$ 508,925 (around US$ 400,000) in cash. Two other Myanmar nationals, Wai Sar Tun and Win Myin, abetted him by carrying a portion of the cash, the Public Affairs Department of the Singapore police force said in a January 5 statement. Wai Sar Tun was carrying S$ 250,000 in cash belonging to Kyaw Min Oo in one bag and Win Myint was carrying S$ 249,000 of the arms broker’s money in a second item of luggage. Kyaw Min Oo was found with S$ 9,925. Authorities said the three men knew the amount they were moving out of Singapore exceeded the prescribed limit of S$ 20,000 but had failed to report to a Singapore immigration officer. The offense carries a maximum jail term of three years and/or a fine of up to S$ 50,000. “As everyone knows, he [Kyaw Min Oo] is a partner of U Tay Za who has been involved in dirty businesses supplying the [Myanmar] military for years,” said U Paing, a businessman in Yangon. Kyaw Min Oo, who previously worked for crony tycoon Tay Za, and his company Sky Aviator, supplies equipment for jet fighters and helicopters purchased by Myanmar’s military from Russia and Ukraine. He and his company were sanctioned by the United States in November 2022. Read more at:
