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An Australian educational who’s being tried with ousted Myanmar chief Aung San Suu Kyi on expenses of violating the nation’s official secrets and techniques regulation testified in court docket for the primary time on Thursday, a authorized official has stated.
Sean Turnell, an economist at Sydney’s Macquarie College, had served as an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, who was arrested when her elected authorities was ousted by the military on 1 February 2021.
Turnell was arrested 5 days later and is being held in the principle jail in Naypyidaw, the capital, as is Aung San Suu Kyi. Three of Aung San Suu Kyi’s former cupboard members are being tried with them in a particular court docket on the jail.
A authorized official accustomed to Thursday’s proceedings stated Turnell denied the allegations in opposition to him and pleaded not responsible. Additional particulars of his testimony weren’t accessible as a result of his attorneys have been barred from speaking concerning the case.
All of the trials involving Aung San Suu Kyi have been held beneath comparable restrictions, with the proceedings closed to the media and the general public.
The authorized official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of he’s not authorised to launch data, stated Turnell and his co-defendants gave the impression to be in good well being.
The precise particulars of the alleged offence within the case haven’t been made public, although Myanmar state tv, citing authorities statements, stated final yr that Turnell had entry to “secret state monetary data” and had tried to flee the nation.
Turnell can also be being prosecuted beneath the immigration regulation, which carries a punishment of six months to 5 years’ imprisonment. Prosecutions beneath the immigration regulation are widespread for foreigners being held for different offences.
The decide adjourned Thursday’s proceedings till subsequent week, when Aung San Suu Kyi is to testify.
The case is considered one of many confronted by Aung San Suu Kyi and is extensively seen as an effort to discredit her to stop her return to politics. The costs in opposition to her embody corruption and election fraud. She has already been convicted of a number of minor offences.
Final yr’s army takeover sparked peaceable nationwide avenue protests that safety forces quashed with deadly drive, triggering armed resistance that some UN consultants have characterised as civil conflict.
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