Myanmar’s military rulers, led by Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, have accused the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi of illegally accepting $600,000 (£430,000) and gold.
The BBC reports that the allegation is the strongest yet levelled by the military since it overthrew Ms Suu Kyi and the country’s democratic leadership on 1 February.
No evidence was provided for the charge.
General Tun also accused President Win Myint and several cabinet ministers of corruption.
Ms Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory in the polls last year, but the military now claims the election was fraudulent.
Independent international observers have disputed the military’s claim – saying no irregularities were observed.
Ms Suu Kyi has been held for the past five weeks in an undisclosed location and faces several charges including causing “fear and alarm”, illegally possessing radio equipment, and breaking Covid-19 restrictions.
The illegal payments charge levelled on Thursday was the most serious so far. The value of the gold the military alleges she illegally accepted is roughly £450,000.
