Myanmar court adds three years to Suu Kyi’s jail term

Myanmar’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, was sentenced to three more years in prison on Thursday, after she was found guilty of violating the Official Secrets Act, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A military-controlled court in the capital, Naypidaw, ruled that the 77-year-old Nobel peace prize laureate broke a colonialera law that criminalises the possession or sharing of state information that is “directly or indirectly useful to an enemy”, said the person, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Suu Kyi’s former economic adviser, Sean Turnell, was also sentenced to three years in prison. It is not clear whether the military government will jail Turnell, an Australian, or immediately deport him.

VERDICTS

Three former ministers at the ministry of planning and finance were also convicted of violating the secrets act and sentenced to three years in prison each.

All the accused had pleaded not guilty, the person said, adding that they plan to appeal the verdict.

The latest sentencing marks the sixth round of criminal verdicts against Suu Kyi since the military staged a coup that overthrew the civilian government in 2021. It takes her total jail term to 23 years. She is awaiting verdicts in seven more corruption charges expected later this year.

SINCE THE COUP, MORE THAN 2,300 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ABOUT 15,700 OTHERS ARRESTED IN A CRACKDOWN ON THE PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT

Turnell is not the first foreigner to have been convicted by the regime since the 2021 coup. Last year, American journalist Danny Fenster was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was found guilty of three charges, including inciting dissent against the military, but was released and deported a few days later.

Earlier this month, the junta handed a one-year prison sentence to former British ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband for violating the country’s immigration rules.

Suu Kyi was previously found guilty of charges including illegally importing and possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, breaking Covid-19 rules and alleged election fraud in the 2020 general elections.

She has called the allegations “absurd”, while her supporters say the charges are “politically motivated”.

SANCTIONS

Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, lead spokesperson for the ruling State Administration Council, did not immediately answer multiple calls seeking comment.

The Southeast Asian country has been grappling with soaring inflation and shrinking foreigncurrency reserves amid international sanctions following the military coup. The World Bank recently said Myanmar’s economy remains weak due to high inflation and worsening external pressures amid “elevated levels of conflicts”.

Since the coup, more than 2,300 civilians have been killed and about 15,700 others arrested in a military crackdown on the pro-democracy movement.

The junta has sealed off at least 760 buildings owned by anti-coup activists and supporters, according rights group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.