Lay Waddy FM
September 2, 2026

A woman with an intellectual disability in Rakhine State gave birth in late August after becoming pregnant following an alleged rape, but the man accused of the assault had still not been arrested by the time she delivered, according to family members and people close to the case.

The woman was reportedly unable to properly care for herself during the pregnancy because of her intellectual disability. She gave birth prematurely, and the newborn later died, according to a family member familiar with the case.

“The case was formally opened and investigated. She became pregnant and eventually had to be admitted to hospital to give birth, but the man accused of rape was still not arrested,” a person close to the family told Lay Waddy FM on condition of anonymity.

The survivor, identified as “M…” to protect her privacy, is the daughter of U Khin Maung from Buaya Chaung village in Area No. 9 of Wira Thani Township, according to information provided to Lay Waddy FM.

A 64-year-old man from the same village, identified as U Maung Kyaw Thein, has been accused of sexually assaulting the woman. The alleged assault was reportedly investigated and verified by the relevant local DLEP authorities, according to people familiar with the case.

The family said they discovered the pregnancy in May 2026 after noticing that the woman’s abdomen had begun to swell. A medical examination reportedly found that she was about five months pregnant. When family members questioned her, she disclosed that she had been raped.

“She had been close to this man for nearly six years because he was a trusted acquaintance of the family. He allegedly took advantage of her intellectual disability and sexually assaulted her,” a family member said.

The survivor, accompanied by her parents and community leaders, filed a complaint at the Shwe Chaung DLEP police station on May 17, 2026, according to the family.

On May 21, she was reportedly questioned again at the Pog Taw party office by five DLEP personnel, including the township-level DLEP officer.

The woman and her family were questioned about the alleged assault. According to the family, investigators had also obtained confirmation from the survivor regarding the location where the alleged rape took place and the location of the accused man’s residence.

Despite the complaint, investigation and identification of the alleged locations, the suspect had reportedly not been arrested even after the woman gave birth.

Lay Waddy FM could not independently verify all details of the case, including the circumstances surrounding the newborn’s death. The allegations against the accused have not been adjudicated in court.