Myanmar court jails Aung Suu Kyi for seven more years, to serve 33 years of jail term

HY News 30 December, 2022 03:29 pm IST
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A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of corruption on Friday. The court also sentenced her to seven years in prison in connection with the case which is the last in a string of criminal cases against her.

The court's action leaves her with a total of 33 years to serve in prison following a series of politically tinged prosecutions since the army toppled her elected government in February 2021.

The case that ended Friday involved five offences under the anti-corruption law and followed earlier convictions on seven other corruption counts, each of which was punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine.

She has also been convicted of several other offences, including illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country's official secrets act, sedition and election fraud.

All her previous convictions had landed her a total of 26 years' imprisonment. Suu Kyi's supporters and independent analysts say the numerous charges against her and her allies are an attempt to legitimise the military's seizure of power while eliminating her from politics before an election it has promised for next year.

In the five counts of corruption decided Friday, Suu Kyi was alleged to have abused her position and caused a loss of state funds by neglecting to follow financial regulations in granting permission to Win Myat Aye, a Cabinet member in her former government, to hire, buy and maintain a helicopter.

Suu Kyi was the de facto head of government, holding the title of state counsellor. Win Myint, who was president of her government, was a co-defendant in the same case.

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