Ousted Myanmar chief Aung San Suu Kyi has testified in a jail courtroom within the capital for the primary time in her official secrets and techniques case, a authorized official has stated.
Ms Suu Kyi, who has been detained because the navy ousted her authorities final 12 months, is being tried in Naypyitaw with Australian economist Sean Turnell and three former cupboard members on the identical cost, which is punishable by as much as 14 years in jail.
Ms Suu Kyi denied all of the accusations within the case in opposition to her and pleaded not responsible, the authorized official stated.
Mr Turnell, an economist at Sydney’s Macquarie College, was an adviser to Ms Suu Kyi.
The colonial-era secrets and techniques statute criminalises the possession, assortment, recording, publishing or sharing of state data that's “straight or not directly, helpful to an enemy”.
The precise particulars of the alleged offence within the case haven't been made public, though Myanmar state tv, citing authorities statements, stated final 12 months that Mr Turnell had entry to “secret state monetary data” and had tried to flee the nation.
Ms Suu Kyi was sentenced on Monday to 6 years in jail on 4 corruption costs.
She was beforehand sentenced to 11 years in jail after being convicted on costs of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, sedition and one other a corruption cost, bringing her complete jail time period to 17 years. Trials on a number of different costs are ongoing.
Ms Suu Kyi’s supporters and impartial analysts say the fees are politically motivated and are an try and discredit her and legitimise the navy’s seizure of energy whereas preserving her from returning to politics.
Particulars of Thursday’s proceedings weren't out there as a result of Ms Suu Kyi’s legal professionals have been banned by a gag order since final 12 months from revealing details about her trials, all of that are closed to the media and the general public.
The authorized official stated Ms Suu Kyi seemed to be in good well being.
One other co-defendant, former minister Kyaw Win, is scheduled to testify subsequent week.
Mr Turnell testified final week, additionally denying the accusations in opposition to him. He and Ms Suu Kyi are each being held within the jail the place the trial is being carried out in a particular courtroom.
Ms Suu Kyi can be being tried there on an election fraud cost, which is punishable by as much as three years in jail, and 7 counts of corruption which every carry a most sentence of 15 years and a nice.
The military’s takeover final 12 months was met with nationwide peaceable protests. After safety forces unleashed deadly drive in opposition to the protesters, some opponents of navy rule turned to armed resistance in lots of areas.