Group collecting donations by renting house and touring by vehicle arrested in Auk Kyaw Township

In Auk Kyaw Township, Taungoo District, Bago Region, a group that was renting a house and touring by vehicle to collect donations has been arrested and taken action against by joint authorities on August 31, according to the Auk Kyaw Township Religious Affairs Committee. The incident occurred when information was received that a group was collecting donations by hanging vinyl banners on a vehicle in Nyaung Chay Thoke town, Auk Kyaw Township. Following this, the Township Religious Affairs Committee went to investigate under the instructions of the National Central Administrative Officer, Bhaddanta Obhasa Thera (Alin Yata Na Thera). According to the investigation, this group that was collecting donations had previously been apprehended in Pauk Taw village for fraudulent donation collection. They were made to sign a pledge of good behavior, their green vinyl banners were confiscated, and they were ordered to leave the township immediately. However, the group did not leave the township. Instead, they rented a house in Than Kone village, Kyauk Seik village tract, for 150,000 kyats per month. They were then found to be fraudulently collecting donations again by printing revised dates on their donation documents via phone and using new vinyl banners. Regarding the situation of the arrest of the group collecting donations, Sayadaw U Teza Thiri, an official from the Auk Kyaw Township Religious Affairs Committee, stated, "Currently, those arrested include six males, including the driver, and one female. The leader, one male, remains at the rented house. It is not yet known if the remaining leader has been apprehended. Currently, seven people are in the custody of the Nyaung Chay Thoke police station." The seven individuals initially arrested and investigated have been detained at the Nyaung Chay Thoke police station in a joint operation by the Auk Kyaw Township Police Chief and the Nyaung Chay Thoke Police Station Chief. It has been learned that the leader of the group remains at the house they rented in Than Kone village, and further action and arrests will be pursued. It was learned from the Auk Kyaw Township Religious Affairs Committee that during a time when the public is facing difficulties in their livelihoods, investigations and actions will be taken against fraudulent donation collection in the name of religion, donation activities that do not comply with regulations, and the acceptance of donations with set amounts. Furthermore, donation activities by monks and novices who are not fully ordained, substance abuse, and the use of individuals as representatives to collect and distribute donations will also be continuously investigated and prosecuted. Caption: Officials are seen arresting and investigating a group that was renting a house and collecting donations in Auk Kyaw Township.