Myanmar five-star hotel, casino to cease operations after owner faces arrest warrant

Due to the Thai government’s detention of its owner, U Kyaw Lwin, a five-star hotel and casino with exclusive rights to a tropical island off the southern coast of mainland Myanmar, had to shut down operations this month.

Spas, karaoke bars, gaming rooms, and beauty salons are just a few of the attractions offered by the 1,800-acre Grand Andaman Hotel, which is located in Tanintharyi Region’s Kawthaung Township on Thahtay Kyun Island. Before it closed, the hotel employed roughly 1,500 people, some of them were Myanmar residents.

Myanmar businessmen were allegedly drawn to the resort just to gamble. Not needing a visa to enter Myanmar, visitors from both Thai and other countries may enjoy the resort on the island near the Thai beach town of Ranong.

Following an investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in Thailand, an arrest warrant was issued for the “Kofuk” network, which was thought to be involved in money laundering related to online gambling. On suspicion of tax evasion, unlawful money possession, illicit internet gambling, and unregistered gasoline exports, 18 businesses received arrest warrants after searches at 27 sites around Thailand, including Bangkok and Ranong.

By using the results of lotteries in other nations in addition to Thailand, the network allegedly transferred over 1 billion baht via online gambling, according to the DSI. Aside from that, the network committed tax fraud relating to gasoline exports, costing the state an estimated 10 billion baht in unpaid taxes.

Gold jewelry, luxury brands, and pricey autos were taken during the searches. While seven out of the eighteen suspects have been apprehended, the hotel owner remains at large and is thought to have escaped to Myanmar. Although he has Thai citizenship, the hotel owner is originally from Myanmar.

The hotel owner, U Kyaw Lwin, regulates the gasoline market in Kawthaung Township by importing fuel from Ranong Province. He’s interested in a lot of other industries as well, like rubber manufacture, fishing, and shrimp farming.

Concerns regarding the warrant’s effect on the Kawthaung gasoline market are raised by the lack of 95-octane petrol in the region. A significant fleet of offshore fishing boats with gas or diesel engines is one of Kawthaung Township’s most well-known features.

Original story by: The Irrawaddy