NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: Myanmar’s Supreme Court, under the rule of the military junta, has reportedly dismissed appeals related to six corruption convictions against the imprisoned former leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Suu Kyi has been detained since the military seized control of her government in a coup in 2021 and now faces the prospect of a 27-year prison sentence. She has lodged numerous appeals against a range of convictions, including charges of treason, bribery, and violations of telecommunications laws, all of which she vehemently denies.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s legal battles are part of a broader crackdown on political opponents by the junta, which has led to the imprisonment or deaths of thousands of individuals. Several governments worldwide have called for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and the release of thousands of other political prisoners in Myanmar.
As of Sunday, there was no response from a junta spokesperson to news agency’s inquiries about the Supreme Court’s decision. This latest development follows the Supreme Court’s rejection of five previous appeals by Suu Kyi, relating to charges of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, sedition, and violating coronavirus-related restrictions.
Despite a recent partial pardon that reduced her prison sentence by six years, critics, including Suu Kyi’s son, have dismissed the move as inconsequential.
