An Australian tutorial who’s being tried with ousted Myanmar chief Aung San Suu Kyi on expenses of violating the nation’s official secrets and techniques legislation has testified in courtroom for the primary time, a authorized official mentioned.
Sean Turnell, an economist at Sydney’s Macquarie College, had served as an adviser to Suu Kyi, who was arrested when her elected authorities was ousted by the military on February 1 final 12 months.
He was arrested 5 days later and is now being held in the primary jail in Naypyitaw, the capital, as is Suu Kyi. Three of Suu Kyi’s former cupboard members are being tried with them in a particular courtroom on the jail.
A authorized official aware of Thursday’s proceedings mentioned Turnell denied the allegations in opposition to him and pleaded not responsible.
Get Crikey FREE to your inbox each weekday morning with the Crikey Worm.
Additional particulars of his testimony weren’t obtainable as a result of his legal professionals have been barred from speaking in regards to the case. The entire trials involving Suu Kyi have been held below comparable restrictions, with the proceedings closed to the media and the general public.
The authorized official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he isn’t authorised to launch info, mentioned Turnell and his co-defendants seemed to be in good well being.
The precise particulars of the alleged offence within the case haven’t been made public, although Myanmar state tv, citing authorities statements, mentioned final 12 months that Turnell had entry to “secret state monetary info” and had tried to flee the nation.
Turnell can also be being prosecuted below the immigration legislation, which carries a punishment of six months to 5 years’ imprisonment. Prosecutions below the immigration legislation are frequent for foreigners being held for different offences.
The choose adjourned Thursday’s proceedings till subsequent week, when Suu Kyi is to testify.
The case is certainly one of many confronted by Suu Kyi and is broadly seen as an effort to discredit her to stop her return to politics. The costs in opposition to her embody corruption and election fraud. She has already been convicted of a number of minor offences.
Final 12 months’s army takeover sparked peaceable nationwide road protests that safety forces quashed with deadly power, triggering armed resistance that some UN specialists have characterised as civil conflict.
