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Lawyers, relatives turned away from Myanmar trials

Jan 25 (AFP) - At least two defense lawyers and a dozen crying relatives were turned away from Myanmar's notorious Insein prison Tuesday, where special tribunals are under way for 300 people linked to the disbanded military intelligence services.

Some 30 prosecutors and their witnesses were allowed to enter, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene, but no one could confirm whether the accused were allowed defense lawyers in the secretive tribunals that opened Monday.

"So far, I haven't heard that any legal advisers were before the court as the defense lawyers for these cases. So we have to wait and see," one legal expert told AFP.

Twenty-five special tribunals have been set up inside the prison, about 15 kilometers outside Yangon, to hear corruption charges against people linked to the military intelligence bureau that the ruling junta dismantled last year, legal sources said.

Thirty district and divisional judges have been handling the cases, as well as 30 prosecution lawyers. Legal sources said they expected the tribunals to complete their work around mid-February.

Most defendants face multiple charges, including corruption and possession of illegal foreign currency. Some of the higher-ranking officials are likely to be charged with conspiracy, the legal expert said.

The defendants are closely connected to former military intelligence chief and deposed premier General Khin Nyunt, who has been accused by the ruling military junta of insubordination and abuse of power.

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