Myanmar ex-telecoms minister faces graft probe

(AP) Myanmar's recently retired telecommunications minister and former and active employees from his ministry are under investigation for alleged corruption, an official familiar with the case says.

The official said Thursday that that more than a dozen ministry officials including engineers are being probed in connection with allegations of graft. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information to the press.

The government announced last week that Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Thein Tun was being allowed to retire voluntarily. Such announcements that Cabinet ministers are being permitted to step down are commonly taken to mean they were forced to quit.

President Thein Sein in early January formed a high-level anti-corruption team to pursue his stated goal of clean government.