Burma's ruling military disclosed details Sunday of corruption charges against ex-Prime Minister Khin Nyunt, and says he was ousted last month to prevent the disintegration of the country's military.
The once-powerful junta member has been under house arrest since he was removed from office on Oct. 19.
Burma's military leaders initially said Khin Nyunt retired for health reasons, but then acknowledged that he had been removed from office because he failed to take action against corruption.
Today's editions of Burma's state-controlled newspapers published the full text of a lengthy speech (delivered Oct. 24) by General Thura Shwe Mahn, the ruling council's third-ranking member.
He disclosed extensive details of a major corruption scandal involving Khin Nyunt, including the arrest of nearly 200 people and seizure of 42 tons of jade and millions of dollars in cash at Muse on the Burma-China border.
Khin Nyunt was replaced by a hard-line member of the military, Lt.-Gen. Soe Win.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.