(UTVNEWS | COLOMBO) – Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, the most serious charge filed against her so far.
Her lawyer told Reuters he learned of the new charge – which carries a term of up to 14 years – just two days ago.
The new charge comes a day after Ms Suu Kyi appeared by video link in court in connection with earlier charges.
She was arrested on 1 February when the military grabbed power in a coup.
They allege that a general election last year, which saw Ms Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) win by a landslide, was fraudulent – though there is no evidence of this.
Myanmar has been rocked by weeks of protests since the coup that have been met with increasingly violent military crackdowns. More than 500 – including 40 children – have been killed so far.