Myanmar’s Suu Kyi faces further imprisonment and hard labor for election fraud

(Reuters) – Myanmar’s ousted former leader Aung San Suu Kyi pleaded guilty to election fraud on Friday and a judge sentenced her to three years in prison with hard labor, a source familiar with the proceedings said.

The Nobel laureate and leader of Myanmar, who has opposed decades of military rule, has been in prison since a coup early last year and has already served more than 17 years in prison. She has denied all the charges against her.

Friday She was convicted of fraud in the November 2020 general election, where the National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming legislative vote, destabilizing the party created by the powerful military.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said it was unclear what the hard work would entail. Co-accused Win Myint, the deposed president, was given the same sentence, the source said.

A spokesman for the ruling military council did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The junta’s Suu Kyi says due process is being given.

Suu Kyi’s NLD took power in February 2021 to form a new government after the election, which it says was marred by allegations of fraud.

The NLD denied fraud and said it had won fairly.

Suu Kyi, 77, has been on trial for more than a year on charges ranging from corruption to leaking official secrets.

Her trial was held behind closed doors in the capital, Naypyitaw, and the junta’s statements on the proceedings were limited. A gag order has been placed on Suu Kyi’s lawyers. (This story was edited in paragraph 8 to update Suki’s age to 77, not 76.)