The head of Kanmaw Village police station in Kyunsu Township, Tanintharyi Region has accepted bribes to allow illegal gambling stalls to operate openly in the village.

The junta-appointed police chief has taken bribes from the owners of gambling stalls offering card games and other gambling games such as a primitive form of roulette to allow them to all set up together under a shady tree between the village hospital and nurses' quarters in Kanmaw Village, according to villagers.

A 45-year-old villager said: “Every day, the gambling stalls are there under the big tree behind the hospital, with people playing card games. The stakes are high—minimum bets usually start at 40,000 or 50,000 MMK per game. Women are often seen playing, and the place stays active all day.”

Before they can gamble people have to pay an entrance fee of 20,000 MMK. A portion of this fee is given to the police chief as a bribe, according to villagers.

The gambling stalls open at 9:00 am every day and stay open until late at night. Some gamblers have been spotted placing bets of millions or even tens of millions of kyats (MMK).

Prior to this police chief being posted to Kanmaw Village there had been a crackdown on gambling in the village and it was not allowed. But, since this police chief took over, about a year ago, there has been open gambling in the village in direct contravention of the law.

According to villagers, many locals are visiting the gambling stalls, including young people and women. Some have lost so much they are now completely broke.

Locals want the illegal gambling stalls shut down as soon as possible because they fear that they could harm the local community.

There is a junta military camp to the east of Kanmaw Village Hospital and some officers from the camp are also involved in running the gambling stalls, according to some villagers.