A COURT in Myanmar has sentenced ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi to a further three years in jail for corruption.

The 1991 Nobel Peace laureate has denied the allegations against her in this case, in which she’s accused of receiving $550,000 (£498,000) as a bribe from tycoon Maung Weik.

Ms Suu Kyi was detained on February 1 2021, when the military seized power from her elected government. She had already been sentenced to 23 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of illegally importing and possessing walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching the country’s official secrets act, sedition, election fraud and five corruption charges.

Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges are politically motivated and an attempt to discredit her and to keep her from taking part in the next election, which the military has promised to hold in 2023.

Ms Suu Kyi has not been seen or allowed to speak in public since she was arrested and her lawyers have also been barred from speaking publicly on her behalf or about her trial.

According to a list compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a group now based in Thailand, at least 2,343 civilians have been killed and 15,821 arrested by security forces since the coup.