Myanmar military court sentences Suu Kyi to 4 years in jail

ISTANBUL – A military court in Myanmar on Monday convicted Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s deposed leader, to four years in prison for violating coronavirus restrictions and “incitement.”

Former President Win Myint was also sentenced to four years in prison by the court in Naypyidaw, the administrative capital of the country, according to the daily Irrawaddy.

Suu Kyi, 76, and Myint were among hundreds of people detained in Myanmar’s military junta’s pre-dawn takeover in February, which sparked huge demonstrations.

The “incitement statements,” mentioned in the charges, were put on her party’s Facebook page after Suu Kyi and other party leaders had already been detained by the military, while the charges regarding violation of coronavirus restrictions date back to her election campaign appearances.

The ousted leader led the National League for Democracy party which was set to begin a second five-year term in office after winning elections in November 2020.

Junta forces have killed around 1,000 people and detained another 5,400 during the anti-coup demonstrations in the Southeast Asian nation.