FOREIGN Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, in a tweet, has voiced his concern over the latest development concerning the sentencing of Myanmar ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 76, on corruption charges.

In his tweet, he said that the basic principles of human rights and justice should prevail and be observed in the Southeast Asian country.

Saifuddin also shared a tweet by Nabila Massrali, European Union spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy, who said: “Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial is politically motivated, another step to dismantle rule of law and is a setback to Myanmar’s democracy. EU calls for the release of all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained since the coup.” 

A junta court in Myanmar yesterday sentenced Suu Kyi to five years in prison over alleged corruption. 

She was found guilty of receiving bribes of cash and gold from Yangon’s former chief minister Phyo Min Thein, reported Anadolu Agency quoting Myanmar Now news website. 

Phyo claimed he gave Suu Kyi US$600,000 in cash and 11.4kg of gold “in exchange for favours for his businesses”. Suu Kyi has described the charges as “absurd”.

Since last December, the Nobel laureate has been sentenced six times to at least 11 years in jail in multiple cases.

The ruling for 11 other charges is pending.

Suu Kyi’s government was deposed in a military coup on February 1, 2021, a year after it made strides in November 2020’s nationwide elections.

The coup was met by mass civil unrest as people protested Suu Kyi’s ouster and the return of military rule. The junta cracked down violently on protests as the UN repeatedly warned the country had descended into civil war. 

The junta forces have since killed more than 1,500 people in a crackdown on dissent, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a local monitoring group. – Bernama, April 28, 2022.