Three people were arrested for selling ancient gold items excavated in the Bagan Ancient Cultural Zone without submitting them to the relevant authorities, according to a statement released by the Information Team of the State Administration Council.
U Nyo aka ‘Ko Ko Nyo’ (under scrutiny), who was granted permission to dig a drainage trench to improve water flow in the Bagan Ancient Cultural Zone, Myinkaba Village, NyaungU Township, Mandalay Region, found an ancient earthen pot on September 20 while excavating earth together with other 13 people including three masons, Aung Phyo, Sein Htun and Aung Moe, the statement said.
According to the statement, inside the pot, they found the gold items — 10 gold bracelets, 2 gold balls, and some gold beads — believed to be antiques. Of the gold items, Aung Phyo took 10 gold bracelets, two gold balls and some gold necklaces to be sold for self-interest without submitting them to the relevant authorities. U Nyo aka ‘Ko Ko Nyo’ took the rest.
After that, on November 9, the authorities took and interrogated three people, Aung Phyo, Sein Tun and Aung Moe, from their respective homes. According to the investigation, Aung Phyo sold ancient gold items, 13 ticals in weight, for 54 million kyats, and U Nyo aka ‘Ko Ko Nyo’ sold some gold items for 94 million kyats and divided the proceeds among 12 workers, including Sein Tun, at a rate of 5.25 million kyats each, the statement said.
This case was opened at the Bagan Police Station under Section 17/19 of the Protection and Preservation of Antique Objects Law, for selling the ancient gold items without submitting them to the authorities concerned, and the case is in progress to take effective action against the suspects, Aung Phyo, Sein Tun and Aung Moe and 11 other people including U Nyo aka ‘Ko Ko Nyo’ who remain to be arrested in accordance with the law, the statement said.
