The translator for a South Korean NGO worker under police investigation for alleged possession of yaba pills in Taungoo, Pegu Division, has been detained, according to local police.

South Korean national Sangbeom Lee, coordinator at Vigen Myanmar’s free charity clinic in Taungoo was arrested on 19 October when police found a bag of more than 1,600 amphetamine pills in his vehicle at a tollgate outside the town.

He is facing two charges under the 1993 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law for drug abuse and possession with intention to sell.

Sangbeom Lee has denied the charges. He was visited by officials from the South Korean embassy in Rangoon a day after his arrest.

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Police superintendent Tin Oo of Taungoo police said Sangbeom Lee’s local translator, identified as Aye Chan Pwint (also known as Chan Linn), a 23-year-old resident of the town’s Mingyingyo Ward, was detained on Friday after the South Korean told investigators that the bag of yaba found in his SUV belonged to her.

“Mr Sangbeom Lee in questioning claimed the black bag containing the drugs belonged to Ma Aye Chan Pwint and she put it in the back of the SUV. Police tried to contact her afterwards but she turned off her phone and went into hiding. We caught her in the afternoon on [Friday] and she is now under investigation under the same charges the Korean is facing,” said the official.

Aye Chan Pwint was remanded by Taungoo police amid pending investigation.