Daily US Times: Myanmar’s military rulers have accused Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally accepting $600,000 and gold.
The allegation is the strongest yet levelled by the military since the military overthrew Ms Suu Kyi and the country’s democratic leadership on 1 February.
No evidence was provided for the charge against the ousted leader.
Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun also accused President Win Myint and several cabinet ministers of corruption.
National League for Democracy (NLD), Ms Suu Kyi’s party, won a landslide victory in the polls last year, but the military now claims the election was fraudulent.
Independent international observers have disputed the military’s claim against Suu Kyi – saying no irregularities were observed.
Ms Suu Kyi has been held for the past five weeks in an undisclosed location by the military Junta and faces several charges, including causing “fear and alarm”, breaking Covid-19 restrictions and illegally possessing radio equipment.
The illegal payments charge levelled on Thursday against her was the most serious so far. The value of the gold the military alleges she illegally accepted is roughly $600,000.
Myanmar has been gripped by street protests since the military coup and detained Ms Suu Kyi. Her image has been held aloft by the protesters.
On Thursday, at least seven more people were killed by security forces, taking the total death toll to more than 60. Witnesses said some protesters had been shot in the head.
The United Nations, United States and a host of other countries have condemned the killing of civilians in the crackdown against anti-coup protesters in Myanmar and called on the authorities to exercise restraint.
The Myanmar military has dismissed criticism of its actions, instead blaming Ms Suu Kyi for the violence.
You may read: UN calls for release of ‘trapped’ Myanmar protesters
