Myanmar: Court Convicts Suu Kyi In Corruption Cases

Facts

• On Mon., a Myanmar court declared ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of four corruption charges, adding six more years to her current sentence.
• Judge Myint San from the Mandalay Region High Court ruled that Suu Kyi provoked more than $13M in losses to the State by leasing lands in Naypyitaw and Yangon to the health and education charity, Daw Khin Kyi Foundation.
• This brings her total sentencing to 17 years in jail. There are still nine charges pending, including two further corruption accusations. In July, she was transferred from an unknown location to the Naypyitaw Detention Center.
• This comes after the military took over and detained Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021. The military set forth allegations of widespread fraud in the 2020 elections, which had given her party an overwhelming victory.
• Although her five-year term was considered Myanmar's most democratic period since 1962, it is also often characterized as repressive and dominated by the military.
• The US and its Western allies have imposed sanctions on Myanmar military generals and supporters in response to Suu Kyi's overthrow.

Sources: New York Times, Time, Myanmar-Now, Al Jazeera, and Guardian.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Conversation. Suu Kyi is one of many who have been unjustly detained due to the military's desire to repress opposition since the Myanmar coup. Although Myanmar's judiciary is said to be independent, corruption is a deep-rooted problem, and the justice system has deep ties to the military.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Global New Light of Myanmar. This is a strong response against corruption and misappropriation of funds. Suu Kyi's failure to comply with procedure caused Myanmar millions in losses as she weaponized her position of State Counsellor to her benefit, building a house and renting lands to open the headquarters of a foundation for which she's the chairperson.