NAYPYITAW, 16 October 2021, (TON): After more than eight months in junta detention, economic advisor to detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi Sean Turnell is still unable to meet privately with his lawyer.

Turnell, an Australian national, was arrested by the military council on February 6, just five days after Myanmar’s military coup which ousted the elected National League for Democracy government.

Charges were brought against him for violating the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, which carries a 14-year prison sentence if convicted.

Judge Ye Lwin of the Dekkhina District Court in Naypyitaw is presiding over the case. The most recent hearing, on Thursday, lasted only 30 minutes, according to Turnell’s lawyer, Ye Lin Aung.

He told media “I still haven’t been able to hold a private discussion with my client regarding the case.”

Ye Lin Aung said that at the hearing, he submitted a request to the judge to allow him to meet with Turnell alone.

On October 7, the lawyer’s request to hire a Burmese-English language interpreter for Turnell was denied.