Myanmar: A court in military-run Myanmar has sentenced Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi to seven years in prison for corruption, putting an end to a series of secret and highly-politicized proceedings against the ousted former leader.
The 77-year-old democratically elected icon of the opposition to decades of military rule, who led Myanmar for five years before being ousted from office in a violent coup in early 2021, received his last sentence on 29th December.
The decision found Ms. Suu Kyi guilty of corruption in relation to the purchase, repair and rental of a helicopter for use in state activities and natural disasters, including rescues and emergencies.
The politician now faces a total sentence of 33 years in prison, including three years of hard labor, and she could spend the rest of her life in behind bars. She has previously been convicted of multiple offences, including electoral fraud and receiving bribes, according to sources.
Ms. Suu Kyi has denied all of the charges levied against her, according to the source, and her lawyers have said they are politically motivated.
Myanmar has been torn by violence and economic paralysis since the army intervened to prevent Suu Kyi from forming a new government, three months after her party was re-elected in a landslide election against the military-backed opposition. Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about the punishment of pro-democracy activists in the country since the military seized power.
