Suu Kyi sentenced to 5 years in prison in Myanmar | World

The Nobel Prize winner and leader of Myanmar’s opposition to the military regime is charged with at least 18 crimes with a combined maximum prison sentence of nearly 190 years, almost eliminating any chance of a political return.

The judge handed down the sentence moments after the court was convened and offered no explanation, said the source, who declined to be identified because the trial is being held behind closed doors, with restricted information.

• Who is Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner sentenced to prison after military coup in Myanmar

Suu Kyi, who attended all of her hearings, was unhappy with the outcome and would appeal, the source said.

The European Union confirmed the sentence in a statement. The EU said the trial was politically motivated, a setback for democracy and “represents another step in the dismantling of the rule of law and yet another blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar”.

The 76-year-old led Myanmar for five years during a short stint of democracy before being forced out of power in a February 2021 coup by the military, which has ruled the former British colony for five of the past six decades. .

It was not immediately clear whether she would be transferred to a prison to serve her sentence.

Since her arrest, she has been detained at an undisclosed location, where junta chief Min Aung Hlaing previously said she could stay after convictions in December and January for comparatively minor crimes that led to a six-year sentence.

Military government spokesman Zaw Min Tun could not be reached for comment, and did not mention Suu Kyi’s decision on Wednesday during a televised news conference that lasted more than 3.5 hours.

The latest case focused on allegations that Suu Kyi accepted 11.4 kg of gold and cash payments totaling $600,000 from her protege-turned-accuser, former Yangon City Chief Minister Phyo Min. Thein.