Yangon police are on the hunt for Eleven Media CEO Than Htut Aung and chief editor Wai Phyo after the two failed to present themselves at the Tamwe Township police station by 4pm yesterday.
Yangon Eastern District Police Chief U Myint Htwe told reporters yesterday: “We waited until 4pm today. But when we contacted [Eleven Media general manager] Ko Htein Linn, who received the summons letter, he said he could not contact them, so we will follow the process according to our procedure.”
The two are wanted in connection to an article written by the CEO that seems to accuse Yangon Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein of taking a bribe. In the article, which was published by the Straits Times on November 5 and the next day by the Daily Eleven, Than Htut Aung wrote:
On social media, stories have circulated about a newly elected minister, making just US$2,500 a month, being seen wearing a $100,000 Patek Philippe watch.
For many Myanmar people who make just $2 a day, this is a source of great disbelief and resentment.
The individual who allegedly gave this “gift” to the elected minister was recently released from jail after serving time for his involvement in a drug case. After the NLD came to power, this individual’s project to build a new city received approval.
Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein announced at a press conference on November 9 that his office would bring a defamation case against the CEO and the chief editor under the Telecommunications Law, which is applicable to a version of the article that the CEO published on Facebook.
Maung Weik, a businessman who believes he is the ‘individual’ accused of giving the watch to the chief minister, held his own press conference on November 9 where he said he has not given any watches to government ministers.
He also appeared at the Tamwe Township police station yesterday to testify on the defamation case. He said he would not sue Eleven Media over its leaders’ claims.
