Wife ‘overwhelmed with joy’ at husband’s release

The wife of jailed Australian economist Sean Turnell says she is ‘‘overwhelmed with joy’’ at the news he will be released after nearly two years in a Myanmar prison. Turnell landed in Bangkok late on Thursday evening, local time, before getting an overnight flight following his surprise release. He was arrested in early 2021 after Myanmar’s military junta seized power and was sentenced to three years’ jail in September for ‘‘violating the country’s official state secrets act’’. Turnell’s wife, Ha Vu, said yesterday she was thankful to all of those who had advocated for his release, including Foreign Minister Penny Wong and others in the Australian government. ‘‘I am overwhelmed with joy at the news that my beloved husband, Sean, is coming home,’’ she said in a statement.