Myanmar Suu Kyi gets charge added on

BANGKOK — Police in Myanmar have filed an 11th corruption charge against Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s elected leader who was ousted from power by a military takeover a year ago, statecontrolled media reported Friday.

The Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported that Suu Kyi was being charged under the Anti-Corruption Law covering bribery, which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years.

Suu Kyi has faced a raft of charges since she was taken into custody when the military seized power on Feb. 1 last year. Her supporters and human rights groups say the cases against her are baseless, and have been contrived to bar her return to politics and participation in a new election the army has promised by 2023.

Suu Kyi has already been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions.

She is also being tried on the charge of violating the Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years. Australian economist Sean Turnell, who was her advisor, is a co-defendant.

The other corruption cases against Suu Kyi involve charges related to the purchase and rental of a helicopter and acceptance of another bribe. They also alleged she diverted money meant as charitable donations to build a residence, and misused her position to obtain rental properties at lowerthan-market prices for the foundation named after her mother. The Anti-Corruption Commission has declared such actions deprived the state of revenue it would otherwise have earned.