Two customs officials were sentenced to 21 years in jail and sent to the notorious Insein prison last week for corruption, according to a report.

U Myo Thant and U Tin Myint Aung, senior customs officials, were arrested last year on suspicion of corruption while they were working at a customs office in the Rangoon harbour.

According to sources, their relatives gave over Kyat five million for each to Burmese military officials in order to get their jail sentences reduced.

Burmese military officials reportedly told family members that the authorities could reduce the jail terms if they were able to fork out over Kyat five million as compensation to the government.

Despite the large sum of money given by family members, the authorities still sentenced the men to long jail terms.

At Rangoon’s Insein jail there are over 60 customs officials who were arrested last year in the anti-corruption crackdown conducted by the government. Some are still awaiting trial on corruption charges.