Myanmar junta files new corruption charge against Suu Kyi
Bangkok Desk, Dec 1 (EFE).- Myanmar’s military junta has filed a new charge against detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi and president Win Myint, whom it accuses of violating the country’s anti-corruption law, official media reported Wednesday.
Both Suu Kyi and Win Myint were charged on Tuesday at a police station in the capital, Naypyidaw, for alleged irregularities in the rental and purchase of a helicopter between 2019 and 2021 by then-Union Minister of Social Welfare Win Myat Aye, the junta-controlled The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
The military accuses Win Myat Aye of having used Natural Disaster Management Committee funds and causing a loss to the state by paying more than $3.5 million for unused flight hours and later buying the helicopter with the same funds.
The junta also accuses both Win Myint and Suu Kyi of abuse of power and causing financial losses to the state by authorizing these operations.
On Tuesday, a special court in Naypyidaw deferred until Dec. 6 its verdict in the trial against Suu Kyi for incitement and violation of the natural disasters law.
The deposed leader, detained since a military coup on Feb. 1, also faces trial on other charges, including the use of illegal communications equipment, the violation of the Official Secrets Act (punishable by up to 14 years in prison) and corruption.
The Myanmar junta justifies its coup by alleging electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections in which Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory.
International observers have cleared the polls as free and fair.
The coup plunged Myanmar into a deep political, social and economic crisis after the military imprisoned Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy.
Some 1,299 people have lost their lives in violent repression against peaceful civilian protesters by security forces since the coup.
Over 10,500 opponents have also been arbitrarily detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. EFE
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