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Suu Kyi faces additional charges


Bangladeshpost
Published : 01 Mar 2021 09:18 PM | Updated : 02 Mar 2021 12:41 AM

Kyodo, Yangon

Myanmar's detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi faces additional charges, a member of her defense team told reporters Monday, as she appeared for a court hearing by videoconference.

Suu Kyi was initially charged with illegally importing walkie-talkies and with flouting coronavirus restrictions.

The two fresh charges against her concern using the illegally imported walkie-talkies and allegedly spreading information that fanned social unease, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters in the capital Naypyitaw.

He was referring to Section 505(b) of the Penal Code. which criminalizes speech that "is likely to cause fear or alarm to the public...whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility."

The lawyer said Suu Kyi told the judge she wanted to meet her defense team and the judge instructed the police to arrange for that.

So far the team has not been able to obtain power of attorney from her, he added.

The next court date is March 15.

Suu Kyi was detained following a Feb. 1 military coup that ousted her elected government, and put under house arrest. Her trial began on Feb. 16.

Reports say she has been moved from her residence in the capital, but it remains unclear where exactly she is.