40-year-old woman murdered in Three Pagoda Pass

March 9, 2016

On March 3 a 40-year-old woman was murdered in the Thai-Burma border town of Three Pagodas Pass, in Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State.

The victim, Ma Nan Sine Khan, was visiting Three Pagodas Pass from her home in Lashio, Shan State. According to reports, the alleged perpetrator, U Hla Aung, had previously borrowed money from Ma Nan Sine Khan and had invited her to visit Three Pagodas Pass to discuss his payment.

Ma Nan Sine Khan arrived in Three Pagodas Pass on March 1, accompanied by a male friend, Saw Hla Min. On the night of March 3, U Hla Aung picked Ma Nan Sine Khan and Saw Hla Min up from Ta Pay Oo guesthouse and drove them to a rubber plantation in Karen Suu quarter.

At around 9 p.m. it is alleged that U Hla Aung shot both Ma Nan Sine Khan and Saw Hla Min, with Ma Nan Sine Khan dying immediately at the scene. Saw Hla Min survived the attack and was treated at Three Pagodas Pass hospital.

Saw Hla Min explained, “I followed her here as a friend. U Hla Aung invited us to come here to discuss the money he borrowed from Ma Nan Sine Khan. But when we arrived here he did this to us.”

Locals say that U Hla Aung and his wife disappeared from Three Pagodas after the incident and have not been seen since.

Local authorities recovered Ma Nan Sine Khan’s mobile phone after the attack and found messages left by U Hla Aung that corroborate Saw Hla Min’s story. Police in Three Pagodas Pass have charged U Hla Aung under Article 302 of the Penal Code and have issued a warrant for his arrest.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News