Myanmar junta says Suu Kyi accepted illegal payments of US$600,000, plus gold

[YANGON] Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepted illegal payment worth US$600,000 plus gold while in government, a junta spokesman said, adding that the information had been verified and many people were being questioned.

At a news confrence, Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun also said President Win Myint, plus several Cabinet ministers, had also engaged in corruption and he had pressured the country's election commission not to act on the military's reports of irregularities.

The allegations were the strongest yet by the military since it overthrew the country's top leaders on Feb 1. They remain under house arrest.

Myanmar's ruling military council also reiterated they will only be in control of the country for a certain period of time and will hold an election and hand power to the winning party.

Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said Myanmar's military was helping more than 1,000 of its nationals who he said were in trouble in Malaysia by facilitating their return recently. He was referring to a recent mass deportation that human rights groups had sought to block due to concerns about their welfare.

REUTERS