Her Trial Halted, Myanmar Supreme Court Takes Over Aung San Suu Kyi's Case

Aung San Suu Kyi. (Wikimedia Commons/Htoo Tay Zar)

JAKARTA - The junta-controlled Supreme Court is taking over the Official Secrets Law case against Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi, her economic adviser, and three members of her cabinet.

After a virtual trial at the Yangon Eastern District Court, a member of Suu Kyi's team of lawyers said the judge did not explain the reasons for the intervention by the Supreme Court.

"The case file is no longer in the Eastern District Court. So the judge can't continue with anything and just give us a timetable for the next hearing," said lawyer San Marlar Nyunt, as reported by Myanmar Now Friday, May 21.

Aung San Suu Kyi faces a 14-year prison sentence under a 1923 law that prohibits the possession, collection, recording, publishing, or sharing of state information useful to the enemy.

His former planning and finance minister Kyaw Win, his successor Soe Win and deputy minister Set Aung face the same charges, as do Australian economic adviser Sean Turnell.

San Marlar Nyunt said he hopes to find out why the Supreme Court intervened at its next hearing on June 3.

"The Supreme Court can request a case file if it is an unusual case. They have rights," he said.

"The defense team has been summoned to the eastern district court in Yangon for an upcoming trial, but they are still unsure whether the case will actually go to trial in that court," he added.

Meanwhile, lawyers were again unable to accompany Suu Kyi on Thursday, when she spoke via video link. But the judge showed them the footage. In it, Suu Kyi once again asked to meet directly with five members of the defense team.

Suu Kyi has not been allowed to meet directly with her lawyer since she was detained on February 1, when the military overthrew her government. However, next week she could get a chance for a meeting, even if it is not a private meeting.

This was after a judge told Suu Kyi's lawyer at the start of last month that her client's trial on Monday would be held near her residence, where she is being held under house arrest, not via video call.

For the record, the 75-year-old Suu Kyi faces five other charges in Naypyitaw and a total prison sentence of up to 26 years.

In addition to the Official Secret Act indictment, she is also accused of importing walkie-talkies in violation of the Export and Import Act, inciting and violating the Telecommunications Act.

Myanmar's military regime also ensnared her on two other charges, namely violating Covid-19 rules while campaigning in last year's election.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.