Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s ousted leader is set to face new charges of corruption from the military junta. Suu Kyi already faces charges of illegally owning six walkie talkies and publication of information that may "cause fear or alarm” or disrupt “public tranquillity”
Military broadcaster Myawady aired a video of a Myanmar businessman confessing to giving her a total of $550,000 in bribes between 2018 and 2020. Myanmar has been in a state of turmoil since February 1, when the military junta ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, the nation’s de-facto leader. Citizens have been protesting against the coup since February 2. At least 217 protestors have been killed in clashes between the police and the protestors.
The nation’s economy has taken a hit and with fuel and food prices rising, the lower-income groups are finding it hard to feed themselves.
The confession of giving bribes to Suu Kyi was made by Maung Weik, a property developer.
“Aung San Suu Kyi committed corruption and are preparing to charge her according to anti-corruption law,” an announcer said during the broadcast. On the basis of the confession, military leaders have charged her with violating an anti-corruption law, under which she could face up to 15 years in prison.
Suu Kyi’s lawyers have dismissed the allegations.
“Those accusations are groundless and illogical,” Suu Kyi’s lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP.
“Aung San Suu Kyi may have her defects… but bribery and corruption are not her traits,” he said. Saw also said that the people of Myanmar wouldn’t believe these allegations. The UN has condemned the use of force by the police against the protestors. Pope Francis too urged that the violence in Myanmar should end.
To further curb the freedom of the people, the military junta has cancelled the licenses of five new organisations in Myanmar—all of them had been covering the protests extensively.
On Wednesday, protestors in an attempt to fight back threw Molotov cocktails and fired slingshots at security forces.
