Myanmar Military Court Auctions Villa Where Aung San Suu Kyi Undergoes House Detention, Initial Offer Of IDR 1.4 Trillion

Aung San Suu Kyi when receiving British Foreign Minister William Hague at the house where he was being held. (Wikimedia Commons/Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's court, managed by the military junta, is on a villa where the country's former leader and democracy icon, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been under house arrest for 15 years, at an initial price of 90 million US dollars or around Rp. 1,425,658,500,000, a source said.

A person familiar with the trial process said the auction ordered by the court would be held at the house on March 20.

"If there are buyers, the house will be sold. We'll see if there are buyers or not," added a source who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Meanwhile, court officials could not be reached for comment.

Suu Kyi, who has been detained again since the military toppled her government in 2021, has been involved in decades of legal disputes with her brother over the ownership of the villa on the edge of the lake.

The Nobel laureate was held in a colonial-style residence in Lake Inya Yangon until 2012, when he moved to the capital Naypyitaw to attend parliament after his release.

He gave a passionate speech to his crowd of supporters over the metal gates at the villa. The venue later became the venue for some of his most important meetings, including US President Barack Obama and Foreign Minister Hillary Clinton.

Suu Kyi's older brother, Aung San Oo, first sued in 2000 to get a share of the property, which was registered on behalf of their mother, Khin Kyi.

The court ruled that the two brothers had to share the proceeds from selling the house. Aung San Oo, could not be reached for comment.

It is known that Suu Kyi is still being held, although her whereabouts are unknown. She faces a 27-year prison sentence for multiple charges, ranging from betrayal and bribery to violations of telecommunications laws, accusations she denies.