Conflicts & War

Myanmar Army searched Suu Kyi’s home without a warrant: lawyer

Bangkok, Jul 12 (EFE).- Myanmar security forces that searched the house of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi following her arrest did so without a search warrant, according to her lawyer said Monday after questioning three witnesses during a judicial session.

“Three witnesses testified, including Cmdr. Win Hutton Oo, the military man who led the assault on Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. It was discovered after cross-examination that there was no search warrant, something essential to legally search a house,” Khin Mang Waw told EFE.

The hearings for three of the five diverse accusations that Suu Kyi faces were held Monday morning in a special court in the capital, Naypyitaw: the violation of Covid-19 regulations, the illegal importation of “walkie-talkies “and the violation of the communications law.

According to the lawyer, Suu Kyi is in good health, as is deposed president Win Myint – also accused of violating Covid-19 regulations – and expressed concern about the advance of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Covid-19, which has forced the military junta to impose confinement and movement restriction measures in much of the country, affected the judicial session, as several witnesses could not testify due to being infected.

Health authorities reported that 3,461 new cases and 82 deaths were registered Sunday, bringing the total number of infected to 192,213 since the start of the pandemic, including 3,838 deaths.

In addition to the cases dealt with today, Suu Kyi has another trial pending in the Supreme Court on the most serious charge of violating the Official Secrets Law, a rule issued during the colonial era punishable by up to 14 years in prison. She has also been accused of taking bribes, a charge denied by her attorneys.

The military, led by coupmaker Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, detained Suu Kyi on the day of the coup and, since then, has held her under arrest in an unknown location and practically incommunicado.

At least 899 people have lost their lives during the brutal repression carried out by security forces, who have shot to kill peaceful protesters, according to data from the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners.

The Myanmar Army justifies the coup on an alleged electoral fraud in November’s elections, in which the party led by Suu Kyi won a landslide victory, as it did in 2015, and which were considered free and fair by international observers. EFE

bkk-esj/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button