Myanmar court docket jails Suu Kyi, Australian economist for 3 years

(Reuters) – A court docket in military-ruled Myanmar on Thursday sentenced deposed chief Aung San Suu Kyi and her former financial adviser, Australian Sean Turnell, to a few years in jail, a supply acquainted with the proceedings stated.

Each had been charged with violating an official secrets and techniques act, which carries a most sentence of 14 years, and had pleaded not responsible.

“Three years every, no laborious labour,” stated the supply, who declined to be recognized as a result of sensitivity of the problem.

Suu Kyi, Turnell, and a number of other members of her financial group are amongst hundreds arrested because the junta overthrew an elected authorities in a coup early final 12 months, together with politicians, lawmakers, bureaucrats, college students and journalists.

Nobel laureate Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to greater than 17 years in jail in separate circumstances, largely associated to corruption prices. She denies all allegations in opposition to her.

Turnell, who can be a professor of economics at Macquarie College in Australia, has additionally been in detention since a couple of days after the coup.

The Australian Prime Minister’s Workplace and Overseas Ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Overseas Minister Penny Wong has beforehand stated Canberra rejected a court docket resolution to place Turnell on trial.

Thursday’s sentencing happened in a closed court docket within the capital, Naypyitaw. The defendants’ actual offence beneath the official secrets and techniques act stays unclear, although a supply beforehand stated Turnell’s offence “pertains to an allegation that he had authorities paperwork”.

A junta spokesperson didn’t reply calls in search of touch upon Thursday. The junta insists Myanmar’s courts are unbiased and people arrested are receiving due course of.