Japanese tourist killed in Myanmar

A Japanese tourist was killed in Myanmar after a motorcycle taxi driver tried to rape her, according to official sources on Thursday. A 31-year-old Japanese woman named Shiramatsu Chiharu was killed on Wednesday evening near Nyaung Nyi Jin village, about 48 km from Myanmar ancient city of Bagan. The taxi driver, Min Theik, 39, who tried to rape and suffocated the tourist to death with her bag strap, was arrested as sex offender and murderer at the scene. "The tourist has hired the motorcycle taxi to take sightseeing photos on the way from Kyaukpadaung to Bagan although she has already bought her bus ticket", the sources said. "She was relieved when some villagers saw her with sex offender but almost died," a local people said, adding that she died on the way to hospital. Shiramatsu Chiharu arrived in Myanmar by Air Bagan flight on Tuesday. Such violent crime involving foreign tourists is very rare in Myanmar.