Myanmar junta releases jailed Australian

| November 17, 2022

Myanmar’s military has reportedly released Australian economist Sean Turnell and three other foreigners under an amnesty covering 6000 prisoners.

Myanmar Now, an independent news outlet, cited the military council as saying the pardons were granted because it was Myanmar National Day.

Turnell was working in Myanmar as an adviser to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and was arrested in 2021 after the military seized power in a coup.

The professor was sentenced to three years’ jail in September, accused of violating Myanmar’s state secrets laws.

The other foreigners released include former British envoy Vicky Bowman, her husband Ko Htein Lin and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, according to media reports.