A Myanmar court sentenced the country’s former leader to another four years in prison, though she faces more if found guilty of all her charges.
Former Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi received another four-year prison sentence Monday for allegedly illegally importing walkie-talkies and disobeying COVID-19 restrictions. News of the verdict came from a legal official who spoke to the Associated Press under the condition of anonymity, as authorities are trying to restrict access to information on Suu Kyi’s trials. The former Myanmar leader, ousted in a coup last year, was given another four-year sentence last month for other charges. However, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military-installed government, reduced it to two years only hours later. There are about a dozen cases against Suu Kyi. If she is found guilty of all the charges against her, she could spend the rest of her life in prison. Suu Kyi was hit with the walkie-talkie and radio charges shortly after the coup, which served to justify her imprisonment. They were seized on February 1, 2021, the day of her arrest. Her lawyers said the radios were being used for her security, not personal use, but the court refused to drop the charges. Suu Kyi was also charged with two counts of violating COVID-19 restrictions while campaigning in 2020. Last month, the court found her guilty of the first count. Suu Kyi’s supporters and independent analysts said the charges against her are contrived to legitimize the military’s seizure of power and prevent her from returning to politics. The anonymous legal official said she was sentenced to two years in prison under the Export-Import Law for importing the walkie-talkies and one year under the Telecommunications Law for possessing them. The sentences are to be served concurrently. She also received a two-year sentence under the Natural Disaster Management Law for allegedly violating coronavirus rules while campaigning.
