A court in Myanmar on Wednesday sentenced deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 77, to three additional years in prison on charges of graft, bringing her total prison sentence so far to 26 years.
The court found Suu Kyi guilty of two counts of corruption and sentenced her to three years in jail on each count. The panel ruled that the sentences would run concurrently, which adds to her already hefty prison term by three years.
The latest charges were related to allegations that the 77-year-old former leader had accepted $500,000 in bribes in 2019 and 2020 from Maung Weik, a local businessman, an anonymous source told Reuters.
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi #AFPGraphics looks at the detained leader's charges pic.twitter.com/rFmyLjIS4x
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 12, 2022
Al Jazeera correspondent Tony Cheng added that the businessman was a prominent figure who had a history of running into trouble with law enforcement in the past. In fact, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking back in 2008, though he was then released in 2014. Then, in 2017, under Suu Kyi’s administration, Maung secured a critical development contract that included the construction of houses, restaurants, hospitals, economic zones, a port and hotel zones in Mandalay.
“He said he visited her house on a number of occasions. Left parcels wrapped in black paper with sums ranging between 100 and 150,000 US dollars for her in return for preferential treatment in government tenders his company had made,” Cheng said. Maung also gave at least $180,000 to former Mandalay Chief Minister Zaw Myint Maung, who was convicted of corruption in June.
We once again denounce the unjust sentencing of Aung San Suu Kyi by Burma's military regime. Meritless charges against ASSK and other pro-democracy voices further demonstrate the regime's utter disregard for the Five-Point Consensus.
— Derek Chollet (@CounselorDOS) October 13, 2022
Cheng added that “Those accusations were actually broadcast live on Myanmar TV after the coup. He himself is a rather dubious witness or witness of questionable quality. He’s previously served prison terms for drug possession. Nonetheless, she was found guilty on both charges today.”
The reporter also remarked that it appeared that the objective of the military court’s verdicts and sentences was to remove Suu Kyi “completely from the political scene”. “I think they know very well that if there was any form of election and Aung San Suu Kyi was on the ballot paper, she would win overwhelmingly as she has done in the past,” he said.
#Myanmar | France condemns in the strongest possible terms the new prison sentence imposed today on State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and the manipulation of the justice system for political, partisan purposes by Myanmar’s army.
— France Diplomacy🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@francediplo_EN) October 13, 2022
Statement 👉 https://t.co/x1c4QfxOex pic.twitter.com/WhqCmK8DVg
Suu Kyi, who is currently being held in solitary confinement in Naypyidaw, has called the accusations “absurd” and denied any wrongdoing.
Echoing the claim, Suu Kyi’s lawyers have stated that the series of charges levied against the leader are politically motivated. However, the junta issued a gag order on her legal team last year, which has prevented them from speaking publicly about her trial.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to a further three years imprisonment. As @ASEAN prepares to discuss next steps for #Myanmar, the military regime shows no interest in implementing the Five-Point Consensus. We call for her and all political prisoners to be released.
— Nabila Massrali (@NabilaEUspox) October 13, 2022
The Nobel laureate remains on trial for five other corruption charges, having already been charged with 12 counts under Myanmar’s anti-corruption act. In total, she faces charges for at least 18 offences ranging from acceptance of bribery, sedition, possession of walkie-talkies, flouting election rules, and violating the country’s secrets act, carrying a combined maximum term of nearly 190 years.
While the junta has not commented on the latest charges, it has insisted that the country’s court system is independent and that those arrested are receiving due process.