Suu Kyi sentenced to 5 years in prison in Myanmar | Globalism
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Court Myanmarruled by the army, condemned the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi A source familiar with the case said she was jailed for five years on Wednesday after being convicted in the first 11 corruption cases she faced.
Nobel laureate and opposition leader from Myanmar The military regime is accused of at least 18 crimes with a combined maximum prison sentence of nearly 190 years, virtually eliminating any chance of political return.
The source, who requested anonymity because the trial is being held behind closed doors, with limited information, said the judge issued the ruling moments after the court convened and did not provide any explanation.
Myanmar citizens hold a picture of leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest against the country’s military coup, outside the United Nations building in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday (2) – Photo: REUTERS/Jorge Silva
The source said Suu Kyi, who attended all the hearings, was not satisfied with the outcome and would appeal.
The European Union confirmed the ruling in a statement. The European Union said the trial was politically motivated, a setback for democracy and “represents another step towards dismantling the rule of law and another flagrant violation of human rights in the Myanmar“.
The 76-year-old woman drove Myanmar for five years during a short period of democracy before it was forced out of power in February 2021 by the army, which has ruled the former British colony for five of the past six decades.
It was not immediately clear if she would be transferred to a prison to serve her sentence.
Video: Military seizes power in Myanmar, leaders are arrested
Since her arrest, she has been held at an unknown location, where junta chief Min Aung Hlaing previously said she could remain after being convicted in December and January of relatively minor crimes that led to a six-year prison sentence.
Military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun could not be reached for comment, nor did he mention Suu Kyi’s decision on Wednesday during a televised news conference that lasted more than 3.5 hours.
The latest case focused on allegations that Suu Kyi accepted 11.4 kg of gold and cash payments totaling $600,000 from lawyer-turned-accused, former Yangon City Chief Minister Phyo Min. Thane.
Suu Kyi described the allegations as “ridiculous” and denies all charges against her, which include violating election laws, state secrets, incitement and corruption.
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