Three suspects confess to Ponnagyun woman's rape, murder, DLEPS says

By Admin 27 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

27 July 2026, Ponnagyun

Three suspects detained in connection with the rape and murder of a young woman in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, have confessed to the crime, according to a statement released by the Department of Law Enforcement and Public Security (DLEPS) under the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA).

The three suspects who confessed were identified as Maung Tin Win, 37, from Hsininngyi Village; Maung Aye Kyaw, also known as Maung Pu, 29; and Maung Than Soe, also known as Nga Lone, 21, both from the Kyankhin displacement camp.

The incident began on July 18, when a 23-year-old woman from Autseik Village in Ponnagyun Township went missing.

At around 4:45 p.m. on July 22, a local resident discovered her body in a ditch inside a mango orchard along the road between Tansway and Kyawzan villages.

Following the discovery, the local DLEPS station opened a case under Section 302 of the Penal Code (Case No. Pa 18/2026) on July 23 and launched an investigation.

During interrogation, Maung Tin Win, the first suspect arrested, confessed that the suspects had lured the woman under the pretext of seeking her help before carrying out the attack and concealing her body, according to the DLEPS statement.

DLEPS said Maung Tin Win had known the victim since 2024 and planned the crime in advance. He allegedly picked her up on a sidecar motorcycle and was accompanied by Maung Aye Kyaw and Maung Than Soe from the Kyankhin displacement camp.

According to the statement, the three suspects later brought the victim to an area near Tansway Village, where Maung Tin Win allegedly restrained her before carrying out the assault. DLEPS said the other two suspects acted as accomplices during the incident.

During interrogation, Maung Aye Kyaw and Maung Than Soe also confessed and corroborated Maung Tin Win's account, according to DLEPS.

DLEPS officially arrested all three suspects on the morning of July 24.

The department said authorities are currently seeking remand orders, collecting forensic evidence, and continuing investigations to proceed with prosecution.

According to the DLEPS statement, premeditated murder under Section 302(1) of the Penal Code carries the death penalty or a fine, while rape under Section 376 carries a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years, along with a fine.