Ex-minister Hsan Sint under house arrest, pending investigation

“As far as I know, Hsan Sint has not been questioned yet. He is under house arrest in Yamethin. The Special Branch is mainly monitoring this case; the Bureau of Special Investigation and the Criminal Investigation Department are providing reinforcements,” said a senior officer of the Myanmar Police Force who asked not to be named.

The minister was suspended earlier this month, leading to heavy speculation on the true cause.

The sacking came after a scandalous raid on Maha Thanti Thukha , a prominent monastery in Yangon, on June 10, which the minister was said to have called for, some say against direct orders from the president. Five monks at the monastery were defrocked and charged, including a British citizen U Ottara. They were freed on bail and regained monkhood after the trial on June 20. Another trial was scheduled today.

Presidential spokesperson Ye Htut said later that the minister was removed from office because he repeatedly failed to follow the instructions of the president.

A government official also told Eleven Media that the minister was fired and charged with misusing about US$10,000 of state funds to build a pagoda in the capital. This news also sparked calls by parliamentary committees to seek closer scrutiny of ministries. 

Hsan Sint was also sacked amid growing opposition to a ministry-drafted bill to restrict religious conversion. His suspension coincided with the appointment on June 19 of Thura Myint Maung to a presidential advisory group for religious affairs. Thura Myint Maung had been Religious Affairs Minister during the Saffron Revolution in September 2007, which saw a crackdown on prodemocracy monks. 

Amid negative rumours against him was that he forced civil servants in his ministry to “volunteer” donations for his family.

Hsan Sint competed in the 2010 election for Yaykyi Constituency in the Ayeyawady Region. He served as the speaker of the regional parliament before becoming Minister of Religious Affairs. 

During the former military junta, Hsan Sint was the Deputy Commander of Yangon9, before being promoted to the position of chief colonel by military appointment. 

In the army he was regarded as largely free from corruption. When he was given the ministerial portfolio people from Ayeyawady Region demonstrated to have him back as serve speaker of their regional parliament.