Aung San Suu Kyi's Trial Begins... Minimum 10 Years Imprisonment if Guilty Confirmed

Bribery and Violation of Export-Import Laws Charges
Defense Lawyer Claims "Trial Driven by Political Motives"

On the 24th of last month, Aung San Suu Kyi, former State Counsellor of Myanmar (second from the left), appeared and sat in a special court in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] For the first time since the coup in Myanmar last February, the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, former State Counsellor of Myanmar, has begun.

According to major foreign media on the 14th, the trial of Suu Kyi, who is facing five charges including violation of export-import laws, bribery, and violation of official secrets act, started on this day.

This trial began four months after the coup on February 1. Immediately after the coup, the military detained Suu Kyi along with Win Myint, former President of Myanmar, and other key figures of Suu Kyi’s government.

Suu Kyi’s defense attorney stated that the trial is expected to continue until the end of July.

The military indicted Suu Kyi in February on charges of possessing and using illegally imported walkie-talkies (violation of export-import laws). Subsequently, she was charged with violating COVID-19 prevention rules during last year’s general election, incitement, and violation of the official secrets act, and on the 10th, she was additionally indicted for bribery.

Regarding the most serious charge of bribery, the military claims that Suu Kyi received cash worth $600,000 (approximately 670 million KRW) and 11 kg of gold from the former Yangon governor.

If found guilty of all these charges in this trial, Suu Kyi could face a prison sentence of at least 10 years.

Suu Kyi’s defense attorney rejected all these allegations as "nonsense," asserting that the indictments are politically motivated by the military.

International human rights organization Human Rights Watch also issued a statement on the same day, saying, "The indictment of Suu Kyi is politically motivated," and urged the military to immediately withdraw the charges.

Meanwhile, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 862 civilians have died due to the military’s crackdown on protesters in Myanmar since the coup.