Status: 12.10.2022 10:20 a.m
Former Myanmar Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced again. The military court accused her of corruption, observers speak of a show trial. In total, she has to remain in prison for 26 years.
A court controlled by the military junta in Myanmar has handed down two more three-year prison sentences on ousted Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi for corruption. The sentences can be served at the same time, so the 77-year-old was sentenced to a further three years in prison for various alleged offences.
This means that Suu Kyi has now been imprisoned for a total of 26 years. She has previously been convicted of incitement to riot, violation of corona restrictions, voter fraud and other alleged corruption cases.
Observers speak of show trials
The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been in solitary confinement in a prison in the capital Naypyidaw since June, after being placed under house arrest following the February 2021 military coup. Since then, her contact with the outside world has been extremely limited. However, according to an AP source, Suu Kyi appears to be in good health and plans to appeal the recent verdict.
The trials are closed to the public, and Suu Kyi’s lawyers are not allowed to speak to media representatives. Many of Suu Kyi’s political associates are also in prison. Observers speak of show trials. A former MP from Suu Kyi’s party was also executed in July.
Difficult situation in the country
The generals justified their overthrow with alleged fraud in the November 2020 election, which Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party had clearly won. They presented no evidence. Since then, the former Burma has descended into chaos and violence. According to the prisoner aid organization AAPP, more than 2,300 people have been killed and more than 15,800 arrested since the coup.