A court in military-ruled Myanmar sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday to another six years in prison for corruption, extending the Nobel laureate's total jail time to 26 years. Months later, her sentence was extended was more and she will now serve 33 years in jail.
Suu Kyi "was sentenced to three years imprisonment each for two corruption cases" in which she had been accused of taking bribes from a businessman, a source said, adding that the terms would be served concurrently.
A Myanmar military court sentenced Suu Kyi to seven additional years in prison, increasing her overall jail time to 33 years.
Aung Suu Kyi
Suu Kyi (77) was detained on February 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She has denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she was accused of receiving $5,50,000 as a bribe from Maung Weik, a tycoon convicted several years ago of drug trafficking.
She 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 other corruption charges, reports The Associated Press.
Her legal team has rejected the cases and independent analysts say 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 has promised in 2023.
Information about court proceedings is limited because the media is unable to access courts, and lawyers have been banned from talking to journalists. However, a source added that Suu Kyi appeared in good health and would appeal.
Suu Kyi has been held in detention since the 2021 military coup and is currently being kept in solitary confinement in the capital, Naypyidaw.
The leader is among 12,623 people being held by the military, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma, which monitors arrests and killings, reports The Guardian.
Other foreign nationals being held include Australian academic Sean Turnell, who served as Suu Kyi’s economic adviser. He was recently sentenced to three years in prison for violating the Official Secrets Act. His wife Ha Vu described it as heartbreaking for their family.
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