A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on two more corruption charges on October 12 with two three-year sentences, to be served concurrently, added to previous convictions that now leave her with a 26-year total prison term.
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.
Explained | The legal battles of Aung San Suu Kyi since the 2021 coup in Myanmar
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.
Supporters and independent analysts say all 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 that the military has promised in 2023.
