More than eight months after she was detained by the military in a coup, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar’s ousted civilian government, and her lawyers mounted her defense for the first time Tuesday in a closed-door hearing.
Suu Kyi, 76, appeared in a courtroom specially built for her in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, where the prosecution has spent the last several months presenting its case on charges of "inciting public unrest,” illegally importing walkie-talkies and breaching coronavirus regulations.
No journalists, diplomats or members of the public have been allowed in court. Suu Kyi’s testimony was not made public and the junta has barred all five of her lawyers from speaking to the media, saying their communications could "destabilize the country.” If convicted of all 11 charges against her, she could be sentenced to a maximum of 102 years in prison.