Suu Kyi faces new charges

Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi went on trial Monday, local time, in a new corruption case against her, alleging she took US$550,000 (NZ$855,210) in bribes from a construction magnate. She is charged with two counts under the country’s Anti-Corruption Act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine. Suu Kyi has been detained since the army ousted her elected government in February 2021 and has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since then. She has already been sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegal importing, violating coronavirus restrictions, sedition and a corruption charge.