Article Author:
Associated Press
Grant Peck
BANGKOK (AP) — Exiled Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi announced her public appearance Thursday in the capital's prison court. The attorney said it was the first time he had testified in a secret case.
Su Her Chee, who has been in custody since the military overthrew the government last year, is on trial in Nay Pyi Taw along with Australian economist Sean Turnell and three of her former ministers on the same charges. punishable by up to 14 years in prison. she is in prison.
Ms Suu Kyi has denied all charges in the lawsuit against her and has pleaded not guilty, said a solicitor.
Sean Turnell, an economist, was Suu Kyi's adviser.
Colonial secrecy laws criminalize possessing, collecting, recording, disclosing, or sharing state information that "directly or indirectly serves an enemy."
Myanmar state television said last year, citing a government statement, that Turnell had accessed "secret financial information of the state" and attempted to flee, but the crimes alleged in the case were not supported. Exact details have not been made public. Country.
Suu Kyi was sentenced to six years in prison Monday on four corruption charges.
She was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, sedition and another corruption charge, with a total of She was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Trials are underway on several other charges.
Suu Kyi's supporters and independent analysts said the accusations were politically motivated, discrediting Suu Kyi and justifying a military seizure of power. But he says he is trying to prevent Ms Suu Kyi from returning to politics.
Details of Thursday's proceedings were not available. That's because Suu Kyi's lawyers have been barred from releasing information about her trial since last year by a restraining order, all of which has been withheld from the media and the public.
The Law Officer said Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health.
Another of her co-defendants, her Kyaw Win, a former federal minister, is scheduled to testify next week.
Turnell testified last week and also denied the charges against him. Both he and Suu Kyi are being held in prison where the trial is being held in a special court.
Suu Kyi is also on trial for electoral fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine for her seven corruption charges.
Last year's military takeover was met with peaceful protests nationwide. After security forces used deadly force against demonstrators, some opponents of the military regime turned to armed resistance in many areas.