Ex-Bodyguard of Myanmar’s Suu Kyi Given Two More Years in Prison
By The Irrawaddy 31 March 2022
Myanmar’s military regime has sentenced the female former bodyguard of detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional two years in prison for incitement, her lawyer told The Irrawaddy.
Cherry Htet, a 30-year-old police second lieutenant, was already sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in December for breaching police rules over her social media posts supporting the ousted leader.
She will now have to serve a total of five years in Yamethin Prison in Mandalay Region, where she was moved in December.
Her lawyer U Myint Thwin said: “Ma Cherry was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on Thursday. She is in good health.”
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s former bodyguard had been held in Naypyitaw Prison since Sept. 23, 2021, after first being put under surveillance following the junta’s February 2021 coup and then detained under house arrest in a building behind the police special branch office in Naypyitaw.
After being sentenced for breaching police rules, she was sent to Yamethin Prison, as Naypyitaw’s jail only holds prisoners serving sentences of three years or less.
On March 14, 2021, Cherry Htet was accused of posting: “We miss you Amay [mother],” using the popular term in Myanmar for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. She also allegedly posted another message on March 6 saying: “If you do not dare to be outspoken about justice, keep your mouth shut and do not say there is justice.”
The former bodyguard has also been accused of communicating with a National League for Democracy lawmaker and receiving information about the civilian National Unity Government.
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