Jul 11, 2008 (DVB), The treasurer of the Chindwin Rice Donation Foundation in Monywa, Sagaing, has been arrested by police on suspicion of stealing 8 million kyat from the charity's funds, according to locals.

A Monywa resident said the charity’s treasurer U Thein Htike reported the money missing at the end of June to police, who arrested the charity’s volunteer hearse drivers on suspicion of the crime and beat them during interrogation.

The police then arrested U Thein Htike after they obtained information that he had lost the money in a card game.

"So he was the guy who stole the money and he was even making a report to the police about the money being stolen," said the Monywa resident, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The charity suspected the volunteer hearse drivers of stealing the money so they were arrested by the police," he said.

"U Thein Htike is a heavy gambler and he lost all the charity money in a card game held upstairs in the charity office."

Monywa police station (1), where U Thein Htike is being held, was unavailable for comment.

Chindwin Rice Donation Foundation was established 10 years ago by Monywa’s influential residents to donate rice to monks and to provide free assistance for funerals.

Monywa residents said control of the charity was later taken over by township authorities and it has since become notorious for the regular card games reportedly held in its office building.

Reporting by Khin Maung Soe Min