Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison for alleged corruption.
Ms Suu Kyi was found guilty of five counts of corruption, said a source familiar with her trial.
It is the latest in a series of cases brought against the 77-year-old since her elected government was overthrown by the Southeast Asian country’s military early last year.
She now faces a total of 33 years behind bars.
On Friday, she was found guilty of offenses related to her hiring and operating a helicopter while she was Myanmar’s de facto ruler, the source said.
Suu Kyi allegedly abused his position and caused a loss of public funds by failing to comply with financial regulations by allowing Win Myat Aye, a member of his former government’s cabinet, to lease, buy and maintain the plane.
Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges against her are an attempt to legitimize the military’s takeover while eliminating her from politics ahead of next year’s election.
Ms Suu Kyi ruled Myanmar for five years from 2015 after the military ended her 49-year rule in 2011, only for her to regain control early last year to prevent her government elected to begin a second term.
