Businessman says he gave Suu Kyi half a million dollars in cash

An anti-coup protester throws a molotov cocktail towards police as they move towards the protest area in Yangon, Myanmar. Pic/AP/PTI

A Myanmar construction magnate with links to military rulers said he personally gave more than half a million dollars in cash to deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a broadcast on state television aimed at discrediting the ousted civilian government.

The statement by Maung Waik could pave the way for more serious charges against Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the February 1 military takeover while security forces increasingly use lethal force against a popular uprising demanding the restoration of democratically elected leaders.

The military has already tried to implicate Suu Kyi in corruption, alleging she was given $600,000 plus gold bars by a political ally. She and President Win Myint have been charged so far with inciting unrest, possession of walkie-talkies and violating a pandemic order limiting public gatherings. In the latest salvo of allegations, Maung Waik, who has previously been convicted of drug trafficking, told state TV he gave cash to government ministers to help his businesses. He said the money included $100,000 given to Suu Kyi in 2018 for a charitable foundation named after her mother, $150,000 in 2019 for which he did not specify a reason, $50,000 last February and $250,000 in April, again with no purpose specified.

The country's Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the allegations and vowed to take action against Suu Kyi under the Anti-Corruption Law, the state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday. Meanwhile, a court has issued an arrest warrant for the country's UN ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, on charges of treason, the newspaper reported. The charge stems from his remarks on February 26 at the UN headquarters, in which he condemned the coup and appealed for "the strongest possible action from the international community" to restore democracy in his country.

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