Detained Australian economist appears in Myanmar court
The Hindu
An Australian economist who was arrested when Myanmar’s military seized power in February made an appearance on Thursday, in a court in the capital Naypyitaw, where he will be tried for violation of t
An Australian economist who was arrested when Myanmar’s military seized power in February made an appearance on Thursday, in a court in the capital Naypyitaw, where he will be tried for violation of the official secrets law, his lawyer said.
Sean Turnell had been serving as an advisor to the country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was also arrested when her elected government was ousted by the army. Ms. Suu Kyi and three of her former Cabinet ministers have also been charged under the law.
Violating the official secrets law carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The colonial-era statute criminalises the possession, collection, recording, publishing, or sharing of state information that is “directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy”.