Bangkok: A court in Myanmar has ruled that prosecutors have presented sufficient evidence against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Australian economist Sean Turnell and three other defendants to continue their trial on charges of violating the official secrets law.

Turnell served as an economics adviser to Suu Kyi, who was arrested when her elected government was ousted by the army on February 1, 2021.

The military’s takeover triggered peaceful nationwide protests that security forces quashed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that some UN experts now characterise as civil war.

Turnell was arrested in Yangon, the largest city, a few days after the coup. He is being tried in the capital, Naypyidaw, with Suu Kyi and three former cabinet members charged in the same case.

Violating the official secrets law carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. The colonial-era statute criminalises the possession, collection, recording, publishing or sharing of state information that is “directly or indirectly, useful to an enemy”.

The exact details of Turnell’s alleged offence and those of the others have not been made public, though state television, citing government statements, has said the Australian academic had access to “secret state financial information” and had tried to flee the country.

Turnell is also being prosecuted under the immigration law, which carries a punishment of six months to five years’ imprisonment. Immigration prosecutions are common for foreigners being held for other alleged offences.

A legal official who is familiar with Turnell’s case said he and his co-defendants were formally indicted on Thursday, allowing their secret trial to continue. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release information.