Myanmar military court concludes trial against Suu Kyi

Bangkok, Dec 26 (EFE).- A military court on Monday heard the final arguments on criminal charges against democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in jail since the February 2021 coup.

The military-controlled court held the trial behind closed doors in a Naypyidaw prison where the Nobel Peace Prize laureate is being held.

The trial ended with the final arguments on Monday, and the verdict will be announced on Friday, a source close to the judicial process told EFE.

Suu Kyi faces jail terms for five corruption charges, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The charges include alleged abuse of her position for the rental of land and the purchase and rental of helicopters.

The 77-year-old elected leader has already been found guilty in a string of charges, including the illegal import of “walkie-talkies” in violation of the official secrets law.

She has been sentenced to 26 years in prison.

Defense lawyers, barred by the military junta from speaking to the media, have dismissed all the charges against her.

Last week, the UN Security Council demanded the release of all political prisoners, including democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military seized power from Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021.

Thousands of people, including top civilian government leaders, were arrested, with the military using lethal force in response to pro-democracy protests and killing more than 2,600 people.

The first UNSC resolution on Myanmar in 74 years demanded an end to violence and called on the country’s military rulers to release all political prisoners,

India, China, and Russia abstained from the UNSC vote last week.

The coup plunged Myanmar into a deep political, economic, and social crisis, which has aggravated armed ethnic conflicts raging in the country for decades. EFE

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