A junta court has resurrected a long-dormant case against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, a further sign of the regime’s loathing for Myanmar’s jailed leader.
U Soe Aung, a cousin of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in 2002 lived within her 54 University Avenue compound in Bahan Township for free. He brought laborers, without Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s knowledge, into the compound to have his house repaired on May 8, 2002.
The two argued when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi complained and U Soe Aung punched his cousin in her face, bruising her left cheek. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi filed a complaint against him at Bahan Township police station. U Soe Aung also filed a complaint against his cousin under Article 341 of the colonial-era Penal Code for wrongful restraint.
The Bahan Township court ruled that the then opposition leader pay 500 kyats or be jailed for seven days and that U Soe Aung pay 1,000 kyats or be jailed for one month. U Soe Aung paid the fine.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appealed to the district court, which did not respond.
Her National League for Democracy issued a statement criticizing the verdict as unfair and calling it a politically motivated blow against the party.
The party accused the then military regime of influencing all court rulings involving the NLD.
The current regime has resurrected the case and the Yangon Western District Court on May 27 said the original ruling would stand.
A source said: “The case was first suspended and it was only reopened in May this year and the original ruling was upheld.”
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyers appealed to Yangon Region High Court, which rejected the appeal on Tuesday.
She has been given sentences totaling over 20 years on an array of charges. She also faces eight more charges, including corruption. The 77-year-old is being held in solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison.
Last month, the junta-controlled Supreme Court approved the sale of her family home on University Avenue, where she was held under house arrest for 15 years, approving a petition from her older brother, U Aung San Oo, to auction off the house and share the proceeds.
