Trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi begins

Daily US Times: Four months after a military coup removed the elected government from office, The trial of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has got under way.

Ms Suu Kyi, 75, is charged with violating Covid restrictions and owning unlicensed walkie-talkies.

Trials will focus on breaking the official secrets act and allegations of corruption.

Human rights groups have condemned the trial of the Myanmar leader, describing it as an attempt to stop her running in future elections.

She has been held under house arrest since the 1 February coup in Myanmar, and little has been seen or heard of her apart from her brief court appearances.

Ms Suu Kyi’s lawyers, who have only met her twice since she was detained, will cross-examine witnesses on Monday over the claims.

Another trial will begin on 15 June over sedition charges. If convicted of that charge alone, Ms Suu Kyi faces up to 14 years in prison.

She was handed additional corruption charges last week over allegations that she illegally accepted $600,000 in cash and around 11 kilos of gold.

Her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP last week: “There is an undeniable political background to keep her out of the scene of the country and to smear her prestige.”

“That’s one of the reasons to charge her – to keep her out of the scene,” the lawyer added.

The Myanmar military has justified seizing power in February, alleging voter fraud in general elections held last year.

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