Media: Myanmar approves death penalty for those involved in online fraud

Myanmar's parliament has approved a bill that provides for punishment up to the death penalty for criminals using forced labor in online fraud centers.

This was reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Upper house speaker Aung Lin Dwe announced that lawmakers had approved the relevant amendments following consultations with the lower house. The draft law published in May provided for prison terms from 10 years to life imprisonment, as well as the death penalty for "violence, torture, unlawful deprivation of liberty or cruel treatment for the purpose of forcing actions related to online fraud."

Under the approved legislation, a court may impose the death penalty if a fraud victim dies as a result of violence.

The newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on July 28 that the areas of Shwe Kokko and Myawaddy cities on the border with Thailand had been completely cleared of online fraudsters, where a total of 77 illegal buildings, as well as a 17-story building belonging to the criminals, had been demolished in recent months. The publication notes that the Myanmar government, in cooperation with neighboring countries, will continue efforts to combat online fraud and illegal gambling.