Aung San Suu Kyi Pleads Not Guilty To All Charges In Graft Trial, Terms Them 'Absurd'
In Monday’s hearing, the judge ruled that the trial should proceed after earlier hearing the prosecution’s case, as is customary in Myanmar trials, and Suu Kyi then pleaded not guilty.
New Delhi: Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday pleaded not guilty to a corruption charge against her that alleged she had accepted $600,000 and seven gold bars from a former political ally, a legal official said according to AP news.
Suu Kyi has been accused of receiving gold bars & money from Phyo Min Thein, the former chief minister of Yangon, one of the biggest cities in the country between 2017 & 2018 who is also a senior member of her party the National League for Democracy party. This is one of ten, which she is being prosecuted under the anti-corruption law.
Suu Kyi was detained last year and her government was toppled by the army in February 2021, then she has been not seen or heard from in public, her court hearings are closed to the media & public, reported AP News. She called all charges absurd before her lawyers were given a gag order late last year.
Suu Kyi has already been served with six years of imprisonment for several serious charges of illegally importing & walkie-talkies, violating Covid norms & sedition.
Her supporters & human rights activists are of the opinion that this is all just a ploy to discredit her & keep her from returning to politics and participating in a new election the army has promised by 2023.
A court in the capital, Naypyitaw, is hearing the 10 corruption cases against Suu Kyi. The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years in prison and a fine, AP reported.
The other offences include the purchase and rental of a helicopter. She is also charged with diverting money meant as charitable donations to build a residence, and with misusing her position to obtain rental properties at lower-than-market prices for a foundation named after her mother.
In Monday’s hearing, the judge ruled that the trial should proceed after earlier hearing the prosecution’s case, as is customary in Myanmar trials, and Suu Kyi then pleaded not guilty.
She then requested that four prosecution witnesses, including Phyo Min Thein, be recalled for re-examination.
The legal official familiar with the hearing said Suu Kyi appeared to be in good health, the official told AP News
Suu Kyi is also being tried in the same court on a charge of violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, and on a charge alleging election fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of three years.
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