BANGKOK (AP) – A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi (AP pic, below) on two more corruption charges yesterday, with two three-year sentences to be served concurrently, adding to previous convictions that now leave her with a 26-year total prison term, a legal official said.
Suu Kyi, 77, was detained on February 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she was accused of receiving USD550,000 as a bribe from Maung Weik, a tycoon convicted of drug trafficking.
Corruption cases comprise the biggest share of the many charges the military has brought against the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate.
Suu Kyi has been charged with 12 counts in total under the Anti-Corruption Act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine.
Suu Kyi had already been sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country’s official secrets act, sedition, election fraud and five corruption charges.
Her supporters and independent analysts said the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and legitimise the military’s seizure of power while keeping her from taking part in the next election, which the military promised in 2023.
In recent months, her trials have been held in a purpose-built courtroom in the main prison on the outskirts of the capital Naypyitaw. She has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since she was arrested and her lawyers, who had been a source of information on the proceedings, have not been allowed to speak publicly on her behalf or about her trial since a gag order was placed on them last year.
In the case decided yesterday, Suu Kyi was accused of receiving a total of USD550,000 in 2019 and 2020 from Maung Weik, with separate payments being treated as two offences.
