Aung San Suu Kyi, the deposed leader of Myanmar, was given a six-year prison extension on Monday, which is certain to infuriate the 77-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner’s supporters.
People with knowledge of the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proceedings were private said that a special court inside a prison facility in the capital Naypyidaw convicted her guilty of four corruption allegations connected to a charity named after her late mother.
Suu Kyi has already had four criminal convictions against her since the military overthrew the government in a coup in 2021, bringing her total sentence to 17 years in prison and putting an end to any prospect that she might attempt a political comeback as long as the junta remains in power.
The junta had accused the ousted leader of taking bribes worth $5500,000 from a businessman as a donation to the charity in 2019 and 2020 and of misusing public funds to the foundation to develop her mansion in Naypyidaw.
Suu Kyi entered a “not guilty” plea and vigorously refuted every charge.
Previously, the same court had sentenced Suu Kyi to a total of 11 years in prison for six offences, including importing and possessing walkie-talkies without a licence, violating Covid regulations, and encouraging opposition against the military.
Although her supporters claim the accusations are politically driven, she has labelled them “absurd.”
The national symbol of democracy was relocated from her home to an undisclosed location before her first trial, which started in secret in a state-owned property in June 2021.
She was transferred to a solitary prison section in Naypyidaw Prison that was constructed by the military a year later.
Both Suu Kyi’s attorneys and journalists are not permitted to see the court hearings.
Suu Kyi is accused with nine further offences, including breaching the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and abusing her position of authority to ensure the victory of her political party in the 2020 elections.
Since the coup, the U.S. and its allies have slapped sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders and supporters. After the junta executed four pro-democracy campaigners in its first use of the capital punishment in more than three decades, even other ASEAN members have been reluctant to work with Myanmar.
Last week, Asean foreign ministers said in a joint statement they were “deeply disappointed” by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of Myanmar authorities to the timely and complete implementation of a five-point consensus agreed earlier by Min Aung Hlaing, the military chief who seized power in the 2021 coup.
