Yangon – The former Myanmar leader, who was ousted by the military in a coup in February, was sentenced to four years in prison alongside President U Win Myint by the military junta court on Monday on the first two of the at least 11 charges against her, according to Zaw Min Tun, the military council’s spokesperson.
Both Ms Suu Kyi and the President U Win Myint are each sentenced to four years under the penal code section 505 (B) and section – 25 of law on national natural disaster, along with the Naypyidaw Mayor Dr Myo Aung, who is sentenced to two years.
Suu Kyi was found guilty of inciting unrest and violations of a law on natural disasters in the first verdict in several criminal cases filed against her following the February 01 coup.
The 76-year-old faces a number of charges, including allegations of corruption, violation of national secrecy acts, illegal import of walkie-talkies, and flouting COVID-19 restrictions during the 2020 elections.
Suu Kyi, known as “the Lady” in the international community, had faced heavy western criticism over the Rohingya crisis in 2017 under her government in power, yet the western criticism has no impact upon her popularity at home.
Despite the military laying allegations of voters’ fraud as a ground for the takeover of the power, the election commission backed up by the international observers has denied such claims, citing that the 2020 election was done in accordion with the election laws, and the commission does not receive reports of widespread fraudulent activities.
The Lady rose to power in 2016 sealing a landslide victory in the 2015 election after more than 15 years under house arrest in Yangon.
After nearly five years of power, she is overthrown by the Tatmadaw, known as the army in Burmese.