Tun Min Latt

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Tun Min Latt
ထွန်းမင်းလတ်
Born6 February 1969 (1969-02-06) (age 55)
Rangoon, Burma
OccupationBusinessman
OrganizationStar Sapphire Group of Companies
SpouseWin Min Soe
ChildrenNyan Min Latt
Shane Min Latt
Parent(s)Khin Maung Latt
Win Kyi

Tun Min Latt (Burmese: ထွန်းမင်းလတ်; born 6 February 1969) is a Burmese businessman associated with the Star Sapphire Group of Companies. He is known for his close ties to the Myanmar's junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, and is an arms dealer for the Burmese military.

Early life and education[edit]

Tun Min Latt was born in Rangoon, Burma on 6 February 1969 to Khin Maung Latt and Win Kyi.[1][2] His father Khin Maung Latt is a retired lieutenant-colonel in the Myanmar Air Force and former director-general at the Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.[3]

Business interests[edit]

Tun Min Latt runs the Star Sapphire Group of Companies, a local conglomerate, with interests in casinos, hotels, mining and power companies.[4][5] Star Sapphire has joint ventures with both of Myanmar's military-run conglomerates, Myanma Economic Holdings Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation.[6] Tun Min Latt runs several hotels in the Thai-Burmese border town of Tachileik in Shan State, including the Allure Resort casino.[7] Six percent of the casino's income is distributed to the Myanmar Armed Forces.[8] He expanded his business interests to neighbouring Thailand in partnership with Upakit Pachariyangkun, a Thai senator.[9]

In August 2022, the British government sanctioned Star Sapphire to limit the Burmese military's access to arms and revenue.[10][11] In March 2023, the American government sanctioned Tun Min Latt, his wife, and his associated companies.[1]

In September 2022, Thai authorities arrested Tun Min Latt and three Thai nationals, including the son-in-law of Thai senator Upakit Pachariyangkun, on money laundering and drug trafficking charges, following a police raid.[12][13][7] Thai authorities posit that Tun Min Latt laundered funds derived from illicit drug sales and converted the money into electricity commodities that were then exported to Myanmar through Upakit's Allure Group (P&E).[14] Following the arrests, Kritsanat Thanasupanat, lead investigator of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, was involuntarily transferred to a remote post in Chaiyaphum province.[15]

During the September 2022 raid of Tun Min Latt's Bangkok apartment, authorities seized US$40 million in assets, including luxury cars, watches and bags.[16][12] Tun Min Latt is closely associated with Min Aung Hlaing and his family. The raid unearthed $1 million in assets owned Min Aung Hlaing's children, including Aung Pyae Sone's title to a Bangkok property, and Khin Thiri Thet Mon's bank records.[17][18][16] On 30 January 2024, Criminal Court of Thailand acquitted Tun Min Latt on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, citing insufficient evidence to prove the charges.[19][20]

Personal life[edit]

Tun Min Latt is married to Win Min Soe (b. 1969),[1][21] and has several children, including Nyan Min Latt (b. 1997) and Shane Min Latt (b. 2000).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Burma-related Designations; Belarus Designations and Designation Update; Publication of Belarus Sanctions Regulations; Publication of Jet Fuel Alert". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  2. ^ "COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 798/2004 of 26 April 2004 renewing the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1081/2000 (repealed)". Legislation.gov.uk. 2004-04-26.
  3. ^ Chanayuth (2021-10-19). "New Crony Brokers Israeli Aircraft Parts for Myanmar Air Force". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  4. ^ "Thailand arrests Myanmar junta crony businessman on drug charges". Burma News International. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  5. ^ Irrawaddy, The (2023-01-11). "Assets Belonging to Myanmar Junta Chief's Children Among Items Seized From Arms Broker in Bangkok". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  6. ^ Irrawaddy, The (2023-01-11). "Assets Belonging to Myanmar Junta Chief's Children Among Items Seized From Arms Broker in Bangkok". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  7. ^ a b "Myanmar arms broker arrested in Thailand". Myanmar NOW. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  8. ^ "Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed". Myanmar NOW. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  9. ^ "Report Reveals Thai Senator's Deep Ties to Detained Myanmar Arms Dealer, Profiting Military". The Irrawaddy. 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  10. ^ "Fifth anniversary of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar: UK statement". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  11. ^ "Beyond the Headlines: Myanmar military arrests activists for 8888 commemoration, approves petition to sell Suu Kyi's home". Myanmar NOW. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  12. ^ a b Wongcha-um, Panu; Mcpherson, Poppy (2022-09-21). "Thailand arrests Myanmar military-linked businessman suspected of drug trafficking". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  13. ^ "A Thai senator linked to a Myanmar tycoon is indicted for drug trafficking and money laundering". ABC news. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Tun Min Latt in Thai court denies wrongdoing". Prachatai English. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  15. ^ "Transfer suspicions". Bangkok Post. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  16. ^ a b Abuza, Zachary (2023-03-30). "Thai senator's ties to arrested Myanmar tycoon stir controversy ahead of election". Benar News. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  17. ^ Wongcha-um, Panu; Mcpherson, Poppy (2023-01-11). "Exclusive: Myanmar junta chief family assets found in Thai drug raid". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  18. ^ "Assets of Myanmar leader's sons found in Thailand drug raid - La Prensa Latina Media". Retrieved 2023-01-11.
  19. ^ Paddock, Richard; Suhartono, Muktita (2024-01-30). "Arms Dealer Linked to Myanmar Junta Acquitted in Thai Money Laundering Case". New York Times.
  20. ^ "Thai court drops drug charges against Myanmar businessman linked to junta". Reuters. 2024-01-30.
  21. ^ "Star Sapphire Group's military links exposed - Progressive Voice Myanmar". Progressive Voice Myanmar - Amplifying voices from the ground. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
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