A court in Myanmar, a country currently ruled by the military, sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to five years in prison on Wednesday after finding her guilty in the first of 11 corruption cases against her, according to a source. with knowledge of the process.
Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who led Myanmar for five years before being forced out of power after a military coup in early 2021, has been charged with at least 18 crimes, which carry a combined maximum sentence of nearly 190 years. .
The capital’s judge, Naypyitaw, delivered the verdict moments after the court was convened, said the source, who declined to be named as the trial is being held behind closed doors with restricted information.
It is unclear whether Suu Kyi, 76, a central figure in Myanmar’s struggle against the military dictatorship, will be transferred to a prison to serve her sentence.
Since her detention, she has been held at an undisclosed location, where junta head Min Aung Hlaing previously said she could remain after previous convictions in December and January for comparatively minor offences, for which Suu Kyi was sentenced to six. years in total.
The latest case focused on allegations that the former government leader accepted 11.4 kg of gold and cash payments from her protege-turned-accuser, former Yangon City Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein.
Suu Kyi called the allegations “absurd”.
Nay Phone Latt, a former official with Suu Kyi’s ousted ruling party, said any court rulings were temporary because the military regime would not last long.
“We don’t recognize the decisions of the terrorist junta, the legislation or the judiciary… the people don’t recognize them either,” said Nay Phone Latt, who is with a National Unity (NUG) government that has declared a popular uprising against military rule.
“It doesn’t matter how long they want to sentence, whether it’s a year, two years, or whatever they want. It won’t last.”
Myanmar has been in crisis since the coup and the international community considers the trials ridiculous and demands Suu Kyi’s release.
The junta refused to allow visits, including from a special envoy from Southeast Asia trying to end the crisis.
Source: CNN Brasil
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