BANGKOK (AP) — Ousted Myanmar chief Aung San Suu Kyi was transferred Wednesday from a secret detention location to a jail within the nation’s capital, authorized officers conversant in her case mentioned. Her ongoing courtroom circumstances can be tried at a brand new facility constructed within the jail compound, they mentioned.
Suu Kyi was arrested on Feb. 1, 2021, when the military seized energy from her elected authorities. She was initially held at her residence within the capital, however was later moved to not less than one different location, and for in regards to the previous 12 months has been held at an undisclosed location within the capital, Naypyitaw, usually assumed to be on a navy base.
She has been tried on a number of costs, together with corruption, at a particular courtroom in Naypyitaw that started hearings on Could 24, 2021. Every of the 11 corruption counts she faces is punishable by as much as 15 years in jail.
Already she has been sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after being convicted on costs of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions. Along with the corruption circumstances which might be underway, she additionally has been charged with election fraud and violating the Officers Secrets and techniques Act.
Suu Kyi’s supporters and rights teams say the costs in opposition to her are politically motivated and are an try and discredit her and legitimize the navy’s seizure of energy whereas preserving her from returning to politics.
Many senior members of her authorities and occasion had been additionally arrested and tried, and a number of other are co-defendants in a few of her circumstances. In accordance with the Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners, a personal group that tracks authorities killings and arrests, a complete of 11,174 persons are presently in detention for suspected opposition to the ruling navy council.
Suu Kyi, who turned 77 on Sunday, spent about 15 years in detention beneath a earlier navy authorities, however nearly all of it was beneath home arrest at her household dwelling in Yangon, the nation’s greatest metropolis.
Three authorized officers mentioned Suu Kyi’s legal professionals had been knowledgeable Tuesday {that a} new constructing on the jail has been accomplished and all Suu Kyi’s remaining courtroom hearings can be held there beginning on Thursday. The officers all spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they don’t seem to be approved to launch any details about her circumstances.
One of many officers mentioned the federal government supposed to place her in solitary confinement after her first conviction final 12 months, however needed to wait till the brand new amenities on the important jail in Naypyitaw had been accomplished.
No authorities spokesperson was out there to verify Suu Kyi’s transfer.
The key location the place she had been held for in regards to the previous 12 months was a residence the place she had 9 individuals to assist along with her residing preparations, together with a canine that was a present organized by one among her sons.
Australian economist Sean Turnell, who was an adviser to Suu Kyi, is being held on the identical jail the place Suu Kyi was despatched.
Turnell and Suu Kyi are being prosecuted in the identical case beneath the Official Secrets and techniques Act, which carries a most jail sentence of 14 years, so each are to look on the courtroom contained in the jail on Thursday.
Along with the 11 counts of corruption, Suu Kyi and a number of other colleagues have been charged with election fraud, which carries a most sentence of three years.