BANGKOK (AP) — A court in military-ruled Myanmar convicted the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on two more corruption charges, with two three-year sentences to be served concurrently, adding to previous convictions that now leaves her with a 26-year total prison term, a legal official said.
Suu Kyi, 77, was detained on Feb. 1, 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She has denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she was accused of receiving $550,000 as a bribe from a tycoon convicted of drug trafficking.
Corruption cases comprise the biggest share of the many charges the military has brought against the 1991 Nobel Peace laureate. Suu Kyi has been charged with 12 counts in total under the anti-corruption act, with each count punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine.
Suu Kyi had already been sentenced to 23 year’s imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country’s official secrets act, sedition, election fraud and five corruption charges.
Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military’s seizure of power while keeping her from taking part in the next election, which the military has promised in 2023.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. government will pull visas belonging to current and former Haitian government officials involved with gangs and other criminal organizations as well as provide security and humanitarian assistance to Haiti, senior U.S. officials said.
The officials spoke to reporters by telephone on condition of anonymity as a U.S. delegation was arriving in the Caribbean country that has been paralyzed by gangs and antigovernment protests and is facing severe shortages of water, fuel and other basic supplies.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the U.S. will increase “security assistance” to Haiti’s National Police “to strengthen their capacity to counter gangs and reestablish a stable security environment.”
The U.S. officials who briefed reporters declined to name which Haitian officials would see their visas revoked or how many would be affected, adding only that the measure also applies to their immediate family members.
The U.S. officials also said the government is working with Mexico on a U.N. resolution proposing specific sanctions and additional measures to address the many challenges Haiti faces.
The officials declined to say how the upcoming aid would be distributed, although they noted that the U.S. Coast Guard deployed a major cutter at the request of local officials. The agency said it diverted a 270-foot (82-meter) cutter to patrol waters near the capital of Port-au-Prince.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A 21-year-old male has appeared in a South African court in connection with the discovery of six bodies at a car repair workshop in Johannesburg.
The victims are believed to have been sex workers and the suspect is so far facing one charge of murder.
He was arrested on Sunday in connection with the disappearance of one woman but then five other bodies were discovered during his arrest.
The suspect is expected to be in an identity line-up before he appears again in court on Oct. 18, according to officials.
The case has sparked an outcry from women’s rights groups who are calling for police and officials to do more to fight gender violence.
The groups protested outside the Johannesburg Magistrates Court, calling for the suspect to be denied bail.
The media has been barred from publishing images of the suspect until the identity line-up has been conducted.
