New corruption charges leveled at ousted Myanmar leader, Suu Kyi

New corruption allegations against detained Myanmar leader, Aung Sang Suu Kyi were aired on national television on Thursday, as the military seemed to seek to strengthen the case for its coup against her government last month.

In the broadcast, U Maung Weik, a business owner, was shown explaining how he handed over envelopes full of cash to Suu Kyi or her associates starting in 2017.

In all, he said he had handed over a total of 550,000 dollars during four separate incidents.

A newsreader said the businessman was guilty of bribery and that the country’s anti-corruption commission was investigating.

Leaders of the coup had made allegations in recent weeks that Suu Kyi had been the ultimate recipient of about 600,000 dollars in cash and gold bars funneled to her.

If found guilty on both charges, she could face 30 years in prison, the newspaper The Irrawaddy wrote on Thursday.

After Suu Kyi was dislodged by the Feb. 1, coup the soldiers who ousted her have piled on charges against her, from illegally importing walkie-talkies to sowing disorder by inducing others to commit offences against the state to mishandling the government’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

But outside observers said the military was more likely trying to sideline the country’s most popular politician.

Although the constitution, which was drafted by the military, guarantees it expansive powers and the right to name a veto-proof minority in the legislature, it was surprised by the strength of support for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in November’s elections.

It has frequently alleged election tampering, but provided no proof.

Khin Maung Zaw, a lawyer for Suu Kyi, dismissed the new allegations when asked by dpa.

“I am here not to tell this as her lawyer, but as a Myanmar citizen. We all believe her character.

“You can criticise her in many ways but you cannot criticise her with such a silly idea of corruption.

“I always believe her character. No one believes that she is corrupt.’’

Widespread support for Suu Kyi has turned into one of the greatest problems for the coup leaders, who might not have expected how strongly the Myanmar public would react to her ouster and house arrest.

Protests against the coup started almost immediately and have not died down, even though the death toll and the number of detentions have been rising.

Protesters said that authorities had shown little hesitation to use live ammunition against unarmed protesters.

Recently, Suu Kyi’s supporters have also taken to barricading access to entire neighbourhoods in the hope of keeping security officials away.

But members of the military have now begun to order people to tear down the barricades under threat of force.

“The military tried to arrest the people in the streets or on the roads. And they forced the people to remove the things which were built for their neighbourhood’s safety.

“The people were told that if building the bases again, (they will) all have to be killed. Now they are going around the town, in the streets, and firing shots at houses.

“Many people can’t go out as they are constantly firing shots,’’ said Than Myint.

A Yangon taxi driver, Tun Tun even told dpa he was stopped and forced to clear barricades along with two passengers.

“We all were forced to remove the barricades for an hour. They ordered us and we could not reject it,’’ Tun Tun said.