Extortion in Hpa-An Prison gets worse

June 24, 2025

HURFOM: The amount of extortion by the prison authorities and the police members in the Hpa-An Prision, Hpa-An Township, Karen State from the prison visitors has been getting worse, according to the family members of the prisoner.

Depending on the “things” or “items” that the visitors want to send to the prisoners, the authorities extort between 20,000 to 50,000 MMK and if the visitors want to give cash to the prisoners, the prison authorities also cut those amounts by a percentage.

20,000 MMK is subtracted from 100,000 MMK cash intended for a prisoner, and if the visitors want to see their beloved ones in person, each visitor has to pay an additional 5,000 MMK.

“The extortion in the prison is getting worse now. Before, everything was okay if we paid 5,000 MMK but now, that amount isn’t enough. I have to spend too much money to meet my son. But they only gave me ten minutes. I was repeatedly checked on the way to the prison,” said the mother of a prisoner.

The prison authorities and the police members check every item which will be sent to the prisoners and sometimes, they ban items without reason. The visitors have to pay money again to get the permission.

“They check every thing or item and they don’t allow some items. They give the permission again after paying money,” said a family member of a prisoner.

If a visitor is found to bring “prohibited items”, he or she is arrested and has to pay a ransom of million MMK to be released.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News