Myanmar approves death penalty for crimes linked to forced labour

Myanmar's parliament has approved legislation allowing the death penalty for crimes involving forced labour in online scam centres, as the military-led government intensifies efforts to dismantle the country's sprawling cyber fraud industry.

The new law targets operators of online fraud compounds who use violence, torture, unlawful detention, or other forms of coercion to force people into carrying out internet scams. Under the legislation, courts may impose the death penalty if a victim dies as a result of such abuse, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The amendments were approved after consultations between the two houses of parliament, according to Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of the upper house. A draft of the legislation published in May proposed prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, as well as capital punishment for the most serious offences.

Online scam compounds have proliferated in conflict-affected areas of Myanmar in recent years, becoming part of a multibillion-dollar criminal industry that targets victims around the world through romance scams, cryptocurrency investment fraud, and other online schemes.

While the sector attracts some voluntary workers, many foreign nationals who have been repatriated from Myanmar have reported being trafficked to scam centres and subjected to torture and abuse by criminal operators.

The military government, led by President Min Aung Hlaing, has pledged to crack down on the industry amid growing pressure from countries including the United States and China.

State-run newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on July 28 that authorities had cleared the border districts of Shwe Kokko and Myawaddy of online scam operations. According to the report, 77 illegal structures, including a 17-story building used by scam operators, have been demolished in recent months.

The government said it would continue working with neighbouring countries to combat online fraud and illegal gambling networks.

By Sabina Mammadli