27 Jul 2009

Suu Kyi trial nears end

8:27 pm on 27 July 2009

The internationally condemned trial of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi neared its climax in Myanmar on Monday as prosecution lawyers prepared to give their final arguments at the prison court.

The detained Nobel peace laureate, 64, faces five years in jail on charges of violating her house arrest over an incident in which an American man, John Yettaw, swam uninvited to her lakeside home in Yangon in May.

Her lawyers gave their closing statements on Friday and expect a verdict in two to three weeks.

Monday's session was to begin with closing statements from the lawyers for Mr Yettaw and for Ms Suu Kyi's two female aides, all three of whom are also on trial.