Myanmar Cracks Down on Crypto Scams with Life Imprisonment Penalties

Myanmar's Parliament has passed an anti-online scam bill that aims to curb the country's growing cyberscam industry. The legislation imposes prison terms of up to life for crypto scams, operating online scam centers, and related violent crimes. According to a draft published in May, penalties range from 10 years to life imprisonment for crypto-related offenses.

The bill also allows sentences of 10 years to life or capital punishment for violence, torture, unlawful arrest, or detention used to force people into online scams. The death penalty is required when the conduct causes death. Lower House MP Aye Chan stated that the final version retained the death-penalty provision and made no significant changes to the draft's key provisions.

The bill's passage marks another attempt by Myanmar to address its cybercrime problem, which has turned parts of the country into hubs for online fraud. The report does not mention whether the bill has received presidential assent or when it will take effect.