Myanmar Parliament Passes Crypto Scam Bill with Life Imprisonment Penalties

Myanmar's Parliament has passed an anti-online scam bill that imposes severe penalties on crypto scams and operating online scam centers. The bill, which was approved in its entirety by the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on Tuesday, carries prison terms of up to life imprisonment for those found guilty of crypto scams.

The legislation is part of Myanmar's efforts to curb a growing cyberscam industry that has turned parts of the country into hubs for online fraud. According to Aye Chan, a Lower House MP, the final version of the bill retained the death-penalty provision and made no significant changes to the draft's important provisions.

The bill also allows sentences of up to life imprisonment 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. However, the precise wording of the crypto-related penalties could not be confirmed as the final amended text was not immediately available.

The bill's passage comes after a draft was published in May, which prohibited crypto scams and imposed penalties ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment. The legislation is seen as an attempt by the government to address the growing concern of online scams in the country.